‘Aspirants’ face tough odds in Jones Cup

National basketball coach Chot Reyes said yesterday the "aspirants pool" will represent the country in the souped-up, nine-day Jones Cup where the competition is expected to be a killer.

Reyes, assistant coaches Binky Favis and Aboy Castro and the nucleus of the team leave this afternoon for Taipei where the annual tournament starts tomorrow with the Philippines playing Qatar in the stellar attraction of the opening program.

Reyes said organizers advanced the staging of the Jones Cup from late to early this month and the conflict with the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) playoff schedule limited the choice of players for the squad.

But Reyes said it’s a timely opportunity to test the mettle of the aspirants against tough opposition.

"They’re bringing back the prestige of the Jones Cup by inviting top-quality teams," said Reyes. "We’re caught in a situation where we’re not able to send our best players but playing in the tournament is an investment for the future. We’re playing the hand that’s been dealt to us and we’re out to play our best despite the odds."

Reyes said the Jones Cup cast is made up of a US collegiate selection, a Japan Basketball League All-Star squad with imports, the Australian club Perth Wildcats, the Philippines and national teams from Qatar, Chinese-Taipei, Kazakhstan and Korea.

Reyes is taking 15 players to Taipei. Tournament rules allow each team to choose 12 players from a 15-man lineup 30 minutes before a game.

Four amateurs–L. A. Tenorio, Arwind Santos, Joseph Yeo and Abby Santos–were recruited as aspirants to gain experience as national cagers. The pros in the mix are Ali Peek, John Arigo and Denok Miranda of Coca-Cola, Yancy and Ranidel de Ocampo, Nino Canaleta and Ronald Tubid of Air21, Dondon Hontiveros of San Miguel Beer and Sonny Thoss and Mike Cortez of Alaska. A slot was being reserved for either Alaska’s Nic Belasco or San Miguel Beer’s Dorian Peña at presstime.

Asi Taulava, Jimmy Alapag and RenRen Ritualo begged off from the trip because they’re playing for Talk ‘N’ Text at the Global Hoops Summit in Las Vegas on July 16-22. Willie Miller, Tony de la Cruz, Mark Caguioa and Eric Menk also declined invitations. Danny Seigle and Jay-Jay Helterbrand are nursing injuries. Players from Purefoods and Red Bull could not be tapped because of the ongoing PBA Finals.

Fil-Am amateur stars Joe Devance, Kelly Williams and Robbi Reyes are in the US visiting families after playing in the Philippine Basketball League and asked to be excused from the Taipei trip.

Reyes said the team practiced three days last week and every day starting this week. Last Monday, the "aspirants" lost a 73-68 decision to a visiting Athletes-In-Action squad from the US in a friendly at the Ynares Center. Ranidel de Ocampo scored 15 points and Canaleta chipped in 12 for the locals.

"We’ve got an exciting, young team," said Reyes. "We haven’t had enough time to play together but we’re getting there. Our national program is built on three levels — juniors, aspirants and seniors. Playing the aspirants in the Jones Cup is part of our preparation for the future. This is value for the future in case we’re allowed to play in the Asian Games this year. And since Kazakhstan, Chinese-Taipei, Korea and Qatar are playing in the Jones Cup, it’s also a scouting mission for us."

Favis said because of offseason commitments, it’s been a guessing game as to which players will show up for practice.

"We’ve had to teach the young guys our system so it’s like starting from the top," he said. "Without someone like Miller, we don’t have too many players who can break down the defense. We lack balance because we’re not deep in some positions. But it’s a challenge we don’t mind taking because this is for the future."

Hontiveros, Cortez and Thoss are arriving in Taipei on their own because of previous commitments in Manila. Hontiveros is flying in Sunday while Cortez and Thoss are leaving Monday. They will miss the Philippines’ games against Qatar tomorrow and Chinese-Taipei on Sunday.

PBA commissioner Noli Eala said the team’s recent game against Athletes-In-Action was an eye-opener.

"Ranidel was a revelation, playing like a superstar," said Eala. "L. A. held his own against bigger guards. The team lacked time to jell and because the players just started training, they lost steam at the end of every quarter. But it was a good effort and the team showed a lot of promise."

Eala said Athletes-In-Action’s 6-5 guard Gabe Norwood of George Mason University has Filipino roots and would be a valuable addition to the national team in the future. Reyes said Norwood’s grandmother is from Pangasinan.