Senegal out for revenge

The Philippines and Senegal will slug it out in a Group B preliminary game at the FIBA World Cup in Seville, Spain, on Sept. 4 and this early, experts are predicting a war to end all wars. They’re the lowest-ranked teams in the bracket which includes No. 3 Argentina, No. 5 Greece, No. 16 Croatia and No. 17 Puerto Rico. The Philippines is ranked No. 34 and Senegal No. 41.

Both the Philippines and Senegal are looking to score an upset in one of their first four games then face off in a do-or-die against each other in the last day of the preliminaries. Two wins will advance a team to the knockout round-of-16.

Senegal is definitely no pushover. The African squad played its last World Cup in 2006 in Saitama, Japan. The Philippines hasn’t shown up since hosting in 1978. Technically, the Philippines last qualified for the World Cup in 1986 but forfeited its chance to play in Madrid because of the EDSA Revolution. How appropriate that 28 years later, the Philippines is back in the World Cup in the same country where it should’ve last played.

Senegal’s last appearance in Olympic basketball was in 1980, eight years after the Philippines’ last bow. But in two Olympic encounters, the Philippines has beaten Senegal, 80-68, at the 1968 Mexico Games and 68-62 at the 1972 Munich Games. For sure, Senegal will remember those two setbacks in Seville and play for revenge.

Senegal’s hopes hinge on NBA veterans Mouhamed Sene and Hamady N’Diaye. Sene, 27, is a 6-11 behemoth who has played for Seattle, Oklahoma City and New York in three NBA seasons. N’Diaye, 27, is a 7-0 monster who saw action in 14 games with the Sacramento Kings this season. He previously suited up for the Washington Wizards. Man for man, Senegal will outsize the Philippines. The Senegal players are tall, huge and strong. Their problem is on the whole, they’re neither skilled nor smart. Running the show is 6-1 point guard Adama (Louis) Adams of South Carolina State. Adams, 23, is quick and a deadly outside shooter. The key is to make Adams try to win the game by himself so Sene and N’Diaye don’t get their touches. If Gilas suits up Andray Blatche, there’s no way either Sene or N’Diaye is a better player.

At the 1968 Olympics, the Philippine basketball team was composed of Jun Papa, Danny Florencio, Robert Jaworski, Boy Marquez, Tembong Melencio, Jake Rojas, Sonny Reyes, Big Boy Reynoso, Jimmy Mariano, Orly Bauzon, Ed Ocampo and Elias Tolentino. In the win over Senegal, Papa fired 20 points and Jaworski 12. Senegal was led by Boubacar Traore with 19. The Philippines wound up 13th of 16 and Senegal, 15th. Papa led the Philippines in scoring with a 15 point average. Next was Florencio with 11.2 and Jaworski, 10.7.

At the 1972 Olympics, the Philippine basketball team listed Bogs Adornado, Ciso Bernardo, Joy Cleofas, Florencio, Mariano, Yoyong Martirez, Melencio, Ocampo, Manny Paner, Papa, Marte Samson and Freddie Webb. Mariano poured in 16 points and Paner 14 in the Philippines’ win over Senegal. Sylvester Lopis tallied 16 and Babacar Seck 14 for the losers. Only Mariano and Florencio averaged in double figures for the Philippines which took 13th place once more. Senegal stayed at No. 15.

At the 1978 FIBA World Championships, the Philippines as host was the only seeded entry in the eight-team semifinal round and never got to play Senegal. The Philippines, coached by Nic Jorge, didn’t win a single game and lost eight in a row. The Soviet Union dealt the hosts their worst beating by 47 points, 110-63. Senegal managed to post a win over China, 89-79, but finished 14th and last.

The Philippine team was made up of Alex Clarino, Steve Watson, Ed Merced, Padim Israel, Mon Cruz, Bokyo Lauchengco, Cesar Teodoro, Joy Carpio, Nat Castillo, Greg Gozum, Pol Herrera and Cesar Yabut. Yugoslavia won the crown that year with Drazen Dalipagic, Kresimir Cosic and Dragan Kicanovic.

Puerto Rico is another country that the Philippines will battle in Group B. Their last FIBA World Cup duel was in 1959 in Chile where Puerto Rico defeated the Philippines, 76-63. The Philippine team players were Caloy Loyzaga, Mon Manulat, Charlie Badion, Roberto Yburan, Kurt Bachmann, Constancio Ortiz, Gerry Cruz, Eddie Lim, Emilio Achacoso, Nano Tolentino, Ocampo and Boni Carbonell. That year, Puerto Rico finished fifth and the Philippines eighth.

In the Olympics, the Philippines lost to Puerto Rico in 1968, 89-65 and in 1972, 92-72. Puerto Rico cage legends Teo Cruz and Raymund Dalmau played on both Olympic squads that whipped the Philippines. In Spain this year, Puerto Rico will be bannered by NBA veterans J. J. Barea, Daniel Santiago, Carlos Arroyo and Renaldo Balkman. Additionally, the national team will include American-born players of Puerto Rican descent like 6-9 Moe Harkless of the Orlando Magic, 6-5 John Holland of Boston University and 6-5 Richard Chaney of the University of Utah and Troy University.

Spanish basketball agent Igor Crespo said he’s not ruling out an upset or two by the Philippines in the preliminaries. Every tournament has a surprise team and at the FIBA World Cup, it could be the Philippines. Crespo said the only team in Group B he’s sure the Philippines won’t upset is Argentina.

“I’ve seen Argentina play for years,” said Crespo. “Those guys don’t ease up. If they’re up by 15, they’ll work even harder to build it up to 30. That’s how they are. They work as a team. If one guy isn’t playing up to par, the others will get on his case and straighten him out. They’re tough to beat.” It’s not certain if Manu Ginobili will play in Spain but even if he doesn’t, Argentina will still be formidable with Luis Scola, Pablo Prigioni, Andres Nocioni and Carlos Delfino.