PBA: Young cagers can rule SEAG

MANILA, Philippines - The PBA yesterday said it will not allow its players to play for the national team in this year’s Southeast Asian Games, adding a younger squad could get the job done in Myanmar in December.

“I doubt it. The PBA will be in the middle of the 2013-14 Philippine Cup then. Perhaps, it’s time for our younger future national team players to be tested there,” said PBA commissioner Chito Salud in a text message to The STAR.

The PBA chieftain made the remarks in reaction to Philippine Sports Commission chairman Richie Garcia’s insistence for Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas to field Gilas Pilipinas to the SEA Games.

“I don’t mind if we beat the opponent by 40 or 50 points. The point is we have to send the best team in the SEA Games,’’ said Garcia.

For PBA chairman Robert Non, it’s better to let Gilas Pilipinas concentrate on its task to clinch a FIBA World Cup slot in the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship set Aug. 1-11 at the MOA Arena and Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

“I think SBP has a program on who to send to the SEA Games. Our focus and priority right now is the Phl team’s preparation for the FIBA Asia tourney in August,” said Non.

“Since the Philippines is the host, we want to make sure that it will be a very successful basketball event, and, at the same time, we realize our dream of getting to represent the region to the world championship,” Non added.

The local pro league has moved its season-ending Governors Cup to a later date to accommodate Gilas Pilipinas’ buildup for the Asian meet, virtually making it impossible for the PBA to again revise its calendar for the proposed participation in the SEA Games.

The PBA has not once got involved in the country’s participation in the SEAG – the lowest-ranked multi-event international sports meet participated in by the Philippines.

The only times PBA players competed in a SEA level of basketball competition were in the 2007 and 2009 SEABA Championships which then served as the qualifiers for the succeeding FIBA Asia jousts.

The current Philippine national team doesn’t need to go through SEABA this time, being the host of the coming FIBA Asia Championship.

And for making the semifinals of the last FIBA Asia Cup, the Philippines even rewarded the region an extra spot in the FIBA Asia Championship.

Still, the SBP maintains a Gilas cadet team tasked to compete in Southeast Asian basketball. Among the players in the pool are Garvo Lanete, Kevin Alas, RR Garcia, Greg Slaughter and Fil-Am player Matt Ganuelas.

Last January, this team brought home a crown from a Hong Kong international tourney. Practically the same team also won the title for the country in the last SEABA.

The Philippines is the perennial champion in basketball in the SEA Games. Since 1977, the Philippines failed to win the gold just once in 1989 when a team led by Jun Limpot, Victor Pablo, Gilbert Reyes and Gerry Esplana lost to host Malaysia in the finals.