National team lineup for Jones Cup bared

National coach Chot Reyes has named 11 players who will don the national colors in the coming Jones Cup in Chinese Taipei — most of them culled from among five teams which took an early exit in the ongoing Gran Matador Brandy PBA Philippine Cup.

Jones Cup veterans Asi Taulava, Rafi Reavis, Renren Ritualo, Jimmy Alapag and Denok Miranda head the crack roster that also includes brothers Yancy and Ranidel de Ocampo, Niño Canaleta, Billy Mamaril and incoming PBA rookies LA Tenorio and Arwind Santos.

Reyes reserved one slot for a player coming from any of the two losing teams in the Philippine Cup Final Four.

Reyes had thought of bringing in Mark Caguioa and Fil-Am PBA players Joe Devance and Rob Reyes. Caguioa begged off to heal an injury while Devance flew back to the United States.

The Nationals, who have been continuously training with the hopes of making the grade for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, leave July 7 for the annual Taipei joust slated July 8-16.

The RP team has a busy schedule during the PBA break, notwithstanding the country’s suspension by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA).

"This indicates recognition by other countries of the talents that we have, and this should serve as a statement to the FIBA," said PBA commissioner Noli Eala.

"We are being recognized as a force to reckon with in Asia. There are many teams who want to play us. So why suspend us?" Eala also said. "This is a good message for FIBA to reconsider its suspension of the Philippines."

Before leaving for Taipei, the Nationals will play the visiting Athletes in Action in an exhibition game here on July 3. The guest squad is composed of NCAA Division I players.

The RP squad is also set to play Lebanon and Chinese Taipei in other tune-up matches here before the end of July. Then the Nationals go to Qatar to compete in a four-nation tourney with Qatar, Lithuania and possibly Korea from Aug. 1-6.

PBA ballclubs will also have their own international campaigns with Talk n Text to compete in the Global Hoops Challenge in Las Vegas, Nevada, Sta. Lucia in the Sultan Cup in Brunei, San Miguel in a pro club championship in Taiwan and Air21 in a Hong Kong Invitational tilt.

"That is really the design of the reformatted PBA calendar, to allow the PBA to play abroad during its break," said Eala.