RP five tests Lebanon in first tuneup today

The Philippines plays Lebanon today in the first of two exhibition matches designed to test the worthiness of the Lebanese national team for the FIBA World Championship.

The game is set at 6 p.m. at the Astrodome with ringside ticket pegged at P100, lower box P50 and gallery open to the public for free.

The Lebanese flew in from Jordan two nights ago aboard a Qatar Airways flight that returned to its point of origin after a reportedly deranged Ethiopian national created trouble inside the plane minutes after take-off.

The information was relayed by Lebanese official Michel Bayrouthy to PBA staffer Hazel Ancheta.

The Ethiopian reportedly attempted to harm one of the Lebanese players but was wrestled down and overcome by the other players.

The plane was on a transit flight to Qatar but returned to Jordan where the troublemaker was unloaded and taken into custody, delaying the flight’s arrival in Manila by some four hours.

The PBA was able to lower the cost of the tickets, according to PBA media bureau chief Willie Marcial, after Pasay City Mayor Peewee Trinidad agreed to lower, in turn, the rental cost of the venue to allow more fans to watch.

National coach Chot Reyes is expected to return from Taipei where his new team, San Miguel Beer, is competing in pro invitational tournament.

If his tight schedule prevents him from coming back for the game, RP-Hiroshima Games coach Norman Black will take over the reins.

Making up the RP team are Jimmy Alapag, Don Allado, Renren Ritualo and Asi Taulava of Talk n Text, Mick Pennisi and Larry Fonacier of Red Bull, Willie Miller and Mike Cortez of Alaska Milk, Rafi Reavis and Billy Mamaril of Ginebra, Dennis Miranda of Coca-Cola and Ranidel de Ocampo of Air21.

The second tune-up game for Lebanon is on Wednesday at the Araneta Coliseum, after which the Lebanese will fly to Saitama, Japan for the World Championship.