RP team warned not to focus on China alone

by Agnes R. Cruz

Coach Jong Uchico's Philippine team faces daunting task in Pusan.

MANILA: Don’t look too far ahead; live to get the best out of each day.

This could well be the prevailing sentiment of basketball experts here and abroad regarding the Philippine team’s chances of reclaiming the Asian Games throne in the coming Asian Games in Pusan, South Korea.

They are one in saying that the Filipinos, powered by talented and much-taller Fil-foreign players, are facing an uphill climb in their bid to bring the coveted basketball gold back to the country which last won it in 1962.

Indeed, rough and tricky roads to Mt. Improbable await the Jong Uichico-mentored crew -- the fourth team the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) is sending to the prestigious regional games on Sept. 28 to Oct. 14.

Before they will have to consider China or South Korea as their most probable opponents for the gold, the Nationals will have to first look closely at the other credible contenders, among them Japan, Lebanon and Kazakhstan.

Whether the national team treats this as stern warning or a threat to their ambitious campaign, one thing is certain: they’ve got a fighting chance for the gold.

And experts couldn’t agree more.

“Of course, there’s a chance,” said former four-time PBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) Ramon Fernandez, who played for the PBA team selection that settled for the silver in the 1990 edition of the games in Beijing.

Considered as one of the best Filipino cagers of all time who made a mark not only in the local scene but also in the international field, Fernandez predicted a mere third-place finish at best for the Philippine team in Pusan, although “it’s not impossible for them to capture the gold.”

Yet, he is not discounting the possibility of the Philippines pulling a “big surprise” against unpredictable and massively-improved opponents, particularly long-time and reigning champion China.

He thought Chinese basketball has improved tremendously while the South Koreans will be, of course, tough to beat at home turf.

“The Chinese have raised their level of game several notches higher, and the thing is, they are still improving immensely,” said the team captain of the Robert Jaworski-mentored 1990 national squad that finished second behind the Chinese, “that’s why they are really our biggest problem right now.”

Although Uichico enjoys the luxury of having marquee Fil-Am players at his disposal and long months of preparation for the Games, Fernandez said the Nationals will have to work extra hard to boost their chances of reaching the finals -- and dispute the gold with, most likely, China.

Fernandez echoed former national coach Ron Jacobs’ assessment that in “eight out of 10 games, China will beat the Philippines because of superior height, a deeper bench, and a grassroots development program that ferrets out potentials at a young age. But who knows? If the Philippines plays China for the gold, it could be one of the two out of the 10 games where the tables are reversed. It could be the game where the Philippines will beat China.”

Making up today’s Philippine team are PBA stars Jeffrey Cariaso, Kenneth Duremdes, Dennis Espino, Boy Fernandez, Rudy Hatfield, Dondon Hontiveros, Danny Ildefonso, Chris Jackson, Eric Menk, Mick Pennisi, Olsen Racela, Andy Seigle, Danny Seigle, Noy Castillo and Asi Taulava.

With 6-9 giants like Taulava, Andy Seigle and Pennisi as well as 6-6 Espino, 6-6 Danny Seigle, 6-5 Menk and 6-5 Ildefonso, the Philippine team is the tallest, and perhaps the most talented ever assembled for the Asian Games.

Malaysian national basketball team coach Felton Sealey said China remains the team to beat in Pusan.

“I think China’s beatable,” said Sealey, who coached in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Thailand before moving to Malaysia two years ago. “China’s problem is it tends to play to the level of the competition. China doesn’t play as hard as it should. So it’s possible a team on a good night can beat China on a bad night. You can catch China sleeping. China’s weaknesses are in the backcourt and in the wings. The point guards aren’t creative and there isn’t a true slasher in the team, someone who can play off the dribble.”

He cautioned the Philippines not take other title contenders like South Korea and West Asian countries, like Lebanon, lightly because “they’ve got the talent of the black athlete.”

Sealey said some teams fall into the trap of focusing solely on the traditional titlist Chinese that they end up getting upset by other teams along the way.

Carl Menky Ching, president of the (ABC) agreed that the Philippines will be facing a daunting task in Pusan.

“The Filipinos are definitely facing a rough sailing in Pusan. It”s not only China and Korea that stand in their way,” said Ching, “they also have to contend with Lebanon, one of the strongest teams in the region, whose players are quite strong, experienced and skillful.”

The 62-year-old Ching also noted the Filipinos’ lack of international exposure.

“You cannot gauge the strength of your players unless they compete in international competitions. They should go outside and play against foreign teams,” he said.

But what about the South Koreans?

The legendary South Korean sharpshooter, Shin Dong Pa, had earlier “belittled” the chances of the Philippine team.

“Good for fifth place, your professional team,” Shin reportedly told Filipino sportswriters through an interpreter during a brief visit to the country where he accompanied a Korean squad that took part in the National Open Championship last year.

Then he was asked: “Even with Fil-Am players included?”

“Especially with Fil-Am players,” Shin said, “because your professional players don’t know how to play zone. The Korean team needs only to practice three months instead of eight to beat the Philippines.” *

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