RP team vies in first China Asean caging

The SBP-Smart Pilipinas national team left yesterday for Guangxi, China to compete in the first China-Asean CBO men’s basketball invitational tournament.

The RP squad, composed of members of the national team developmental pool, will play against national teams from Singapore, Brunei, Macao, Myanmar, Malaysia and Vietnam.

The hosts will also field an all-star team in the event slated Dec. 17-21.

The tournament serves as part of SBP’s long-term program of giving the national team enough international exposure as it gears up for the SEA Games in Laos next year, the Asian Games in 2010 in Guangzhou, China and the FIBA Asia men’s championship qualifier in 2011.

The Pilipinas national team, sponsored by telecommunications giant Smart headed by SBP president Manny V. Pangilinan, is led by national team project director Rajko Toroman and SBP executive director Noli Eala.

The players going to China include 11 members of the 25-man training pool of the SBP. They are Joey Deas, Mark Barocca, Marcy Arellano, Martin Reyes, Ogie Menor, JR Cawaling, Mac Baracael, Dylan Ababou, Magi Sison, Terrel Theophile and Greg Slaughter.