RP belles' Asiad stint hits snag

MANILA, Philippines - A change in the schedule of the qualifying tournament – the SEABA Women’s Championship – has derailed the chances of the RP women’s basketball team’s participation in the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, China this November.

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director Noli Eala said the SEABA tournament was reset from June to October to give way to the FIBA-Asia Congress on June 19.

The Asian Games will be held in November. The deadline for submission of names to the Guangzhou organizers is August.

“We have to discuss this matter with the Philippine Olympic Committee,” said Eala.

Despite the new development, Eala stressed the SBP would continue the training program, which includes foreign exposures, probably in Australia, China and Japan, and a pocket tournament in Manila.

The SBP has also plans to acquire the services of Filipino-American players just like what it did when it tapped Vicky Brick and two others for the 2005 Thailand Southeast Asian Games where the country took the bronze.

“We think there are some very good Fil-Ams that can beef up our team at least in terms of size,” said Eala, who is hoping to end the country’s title drought in women’s SEABA.

Eala, however, didn’t comment on the possibility of tapping a naturalized player to address the team’s need for a dominating inside presence just like Smart Gilas Pilipinas.