SBP to form powerhouse SEAG team

MANILA, Philippines - The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas has named big men Marcus Douthit and Greg Slaughter and top guards Keifer Ravena and Bobby Ray Parks in the provisional roster of the men’s basketball team competing in this year’s Southeast Asian Games in Indonesia.

Others in the 12-man list submitted by the SBP to the Philippine Olympic Committee in time for the deadline for the submission of entries by name are reigning UAAP Most Valuable Player RR Garcia of FEU, Ronald Pascual of San Sebastian, San Beda teammates Garvo Lanete and Elvin Pascual, Ateneo’s Emman Monfort and Nico Salva, and Fil-Ams Clifford Hodge and Chris Ellis of NLex in the PBA D-League.

But SBP executive director Sonny Barrios made it clear in yesterday’s PSA Forum at Shakey’s U.N. Ave. that the selection doesn’t comprise yet the final roster for the biennial games.

“This is not yet the final lineup. There is still a possibility that we add or drop more from the list. Nobody is casting anything in stone,” said the former PBA commissioner.

Barrios’ statement meant players like Smart Gilas stalwarts Chris Tiu and Aldrech Ramos, San Sebastian’s Calvin Abueva, UST guard Jerick Fortuna and Letran’s Kevin Alas could still make it to the final cut for the Nov. 12-22 meet where the Filipinos are the defending champions.

“We have to meet the deadline set by the POC that’s why we have to submit an initial lineup, which again I’m emphasizing is not yet final. I believed until the day of the managers’ meeting we can still change the lineup,” Barrios said.

Coached by Junel Baculi and powered by current PBA players Gabe Norwood, Jason Castro, Jervy Cruz, Beau Belga and Jeff Chan, the Philippine squad completed a four-game sweep of the 2007 SEA Games with a winning margin of 43 points.   

Except in 1989 (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia), the country had won all the SEA Games basketball gold since first competing in the biennial meet in 1977.

The SEA Games is just one of several major international tournaments under the radar of the SBP at the moment.

The Smart Gilas-Pilipinas just left for Wuhan, China Tuesday to compete in the FIBA-Asia Championship for Men where at stake is a berth to the 2012 London Olympics.

Barrios is confident enough that the Nationals will be able to perform well during the two-week tournament featuring the best basketball teams in Asia.

Prior to departing to the Chinese province, coach Rajko Toroman said his goal is to make the semifinals.

Barrios won’t dispute Toroman’s statement, but maintained that a “Final 4 goal is quite an ambitious one.”

“Maybe a top five finish is more reasonable,” he said.

Meanwhile, Smart Gilas’ campaign in the FIBA-Asia will be aired live by AKTV over IBC-13.

The Nationals’ first game against United Arab Emirates on Thursday will be shown starting at 6 p.m., while their showdown with 14-time champion China set on Friday is going to be aired at 8 p.m.

The team’s final game in the preliminary against Bahrain is slated at an earlier time Saturday at 11 a.m., with a replay on primetime at 7 p.m.