Philippines - RP team see action in Belgrade
IN its effort to regain the good old basketball glory, the Philippine National Men’s team is set to play a series of games in Belgrade against Serbian Division I ball clubs in late June. RP team head coach Chot Reyes revealed that a visitor from England, Alan Richardson, is arranging at least five games
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IN its effort to regain the good old basketball glory, the Philippine National Men’s team is set to play a series of games in Belgrade against Serbian Division I ball clubs in late June.
RP team head coach Chot Reyes revealed that a visitor from England, Alan Richardson, is arranging at least five games for the RP squad against Serbian teams before the nationals will play in the Qatar Invitational on July 5 to 10, the Manila pocket tournament on July 15 to 20 and the Olympic qualifying tournament in Tokushima in Japan.
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Playing against European teams will toughen the Filipinos for the Fiba-Asia Men’s championships on July 28-Aug. 5.
"Europeans are bigger and stronger than most Asians and play a very physical game. If the Filipinos can hold their own against the Serbs, it’ll be easy beating teams like Qatar and Lebanon, which play the international style. I think the Philippines is competitive against China but I understand coach Chot is wary of the Koreans because they’re bringing in a new team," Richardson said.
The Philippines is set to play for the 2007 Fiba-Asia Champions Cup in Tehran, Iran on May 12 to 20.
Confirmed to play in this tournament are the Philippines, Lebanon, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Jordan, India, Kazakhstan, Syria, Kuwait and Iran.
As part of their preparation for this tournament, the Nationals will play against an all-import PBA squad on May 8 at the Araneta Coliseum.
Pitting their skills against the national team are Rod Neely of Ginebra, James Penny of Red Bull, Galen Young of San Miguel, Wayland White and Alex Compton of Welcoat, Marquin Chandler of Purefoods, Shawn Daniels of Air21, Rosell Ellis of Alaska, Jeff Varen of Coca-Cola, J.J. Salinger of Talk ‘N Text, and Jamaal Williams of Sta. Lucia Realty.
Reyes, on the other hand, added Red Bull center/forward Enrico Villanueva in the line-up of the RP-San Miguel team for the Tehran, Iran tournament.
Red Bull management gave its approval when Reyes insisted that Villanueva, a replacement for Rudy Hatfield, will be a big help in their Iran stint.
However, Villanueva is still doubtful in the Japan tournament. (RCM)