Hard-luck RP 5 to settle for crumbs

Although out of title contention, the Philippine aspirants national basketball team is determined to end its disappointing Jones Cup campaign with a bang.

The Philippines will play three more games against Japan and two other teams in the classification round before winding up the tournament on Sunday.

A glimmer of hope emerged when after three straight losses, the Philippines beat the Australian under-19 squad, 76-67, at the Chinese-Taipei Physical Education College Gymnasium in Taiwan last Tuesday.

But the Filipinos lost a 91-86 decision to Kazakhstan the next day to wipe out chances of advancing to the Final Four playoffs. And to make matters worse, the US crushed the Philippines, 91-68, the day after.

Last year, the Philippines finished third in the annual competition with a lineup consisting of Asi Taulava, Kerby Raymundo, Romel Adducul, Jay-Jay Helterbrand, Kelly Wiliams, Tony de la Cruz, Willie Miller, Brandon Cablay, Yancy de Ocampo, Dondon Hontiveros, Denok Miranda and Jondan Salvador.

This year, only Hontiveros and Miranda are back on the team that Reyes assembled with the future in mind. Reyes recruited players in the 25-and-under category to create an aspirants pool and beefed up the squad with veterans Ali Peek, John Arigo and Hontiveros. L. A. Tenorio, Arwind Santos, Joseph Yeo and Abby Santos were tapped from the amateur ranks to join the squad.

The win over Australia showcased Yeo as a blue-chip pro prospect. He was the last player off the bench and scored 15 points in 18 minutes. Yeo scattered 10 points in the last five minutes of the second period to push the Philippines on top, 32-27, at the half.

Australia trailed by nine at the start of the fourth quarter but trimmed the gap to two, 56-54, before Peek, Ranidel de Ocampo and Hontiveros with two triples conspired to ice the game. Other key contributors were Mike Cortez with five points and seven assists and Yancy de Ocampo who shot 10 points in 20 minutes.

Kevin Probert paced Australia with 13 points.

Losing to Kazakhstan was a bitter pill to swallow particularly as Australia had previously beaten the junior team, 87-84, and the Kazakhs were trounced by Korea in a 35-point blowout. Kazakhstan had also lost to Qatar by nine despite scoring 15 triples.

But Kazakhstan showed up with their heads high, coming from an 88-85 upset over host Chinese-Taipei.

The Philippines raced to an early 27-14 lead and stayed on top, 46-40, at the half. The Kazakhs came back with torrid outside shooting to seize the advantage, 68-65, to start the fourth period.

"It was evident that Kazakhstan gave us the same problems that Korea and Taipei did, how to stop a mobile three-point shooting big man," said Reyes. "If our big men like Ali, Yancy or Sonny (Thoss) got up on them, they would blow by on penetration. If we use a smaller lineup with KG (Canaleta) and Ranidel, we could not rebound. This was the value of Rafi Reavis, Kelly Williams, Nic Belasco and Kerby Raymundo of last year’s teams–mobile, rebounding utility men. To make matters worse, they had a 6-6 deadshot who just kept shooting over our wingmen’s heads."

The score was tied, 80-all, then Kazakhstan scored five straight points to make it 85-80, with 3:30 left. The Philippines came within a point but couldn’t regain the lead.