Pilipinas Basketball:
SBP opts to rejoin Asiad 2018 amid public clamor
August 5, 2018 – Manila
Pilipinas Basketball News 2018: SBP or Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas opted to rejoin the Asian Games 2018 Basketball amid public clamor. Initially deciding to forego the quadrennial event due to multiple factors such as regrouping after the FIBA suspension, player availability and miscommunication on PBA teams lending of players, SBP had a change of heart and decided to send a national team instead.
Notes:
➤ As initially agreed upon, the nucleus of the team will have core players from PBA team Rain or Shine with the addition of some choice cagers from Coach Yeng Guiao.
➤ Gilas Pilipinas will have ROS players such as Maverick Ahinmisi, Raymund Almazan, Chris Tiu, Beau Belga, Gabe Norwood and James Yap.
➤ Other PBA players requested by Guiao include San Miguel’s Christian Stanhardinger, Magnolia’s Paul Lee, GlobalPort’s Stanley Pringle, TNT’s Don Trollano, NLEX’s Asi Taulava and BlackWater’s Poy Erram.
➤ Also for consideration were Gilas Cadet players Kobe Paras and Ricci Rivero.
➤ Only Ahinmisi, Erram, Trollano and Pringle are players who had not represented the national team as a Pro player. Pringle, however, was part of the recent FIBA 3 on 3 tournament.
➤ It will be a second national tour of duty for Chris Tiu who was a member of Rajko Toroman’s Smart Gilas in his amateur days. James Yap, meanwhile, will have another crack at an international cage tournament as he was also a member of Guiao’s 2009 FIBA Asia squad.
➤ Guiao will also be hard-pressed to better his 2009 FIBA Asia coaching stint after then Pilipinas Basketball team ended-up with a dismal 8th place in Tianjin.
Posted August 6, 2018 - Manila
Written by Rock Punzalan for Philippine Basketball News Team
