Finally, Philippine Basketball Team Won

By Benjie Cruz | Published: May 17, 2007

FrancisM said in one of his songs, “Sanamagan! I only wanna win one.”

This could be Danny Seigle’s battle cry early today as the black and blue RP Five salvaged a victory in the 18TH FIBA Asia Champions Cup. Defeating the Bahrain’s Al Muharraq, 99-80. Seigle, Taulava and Ritualo did much of the offensive damage.

(18th edition? Anybody knows who’s the 17TH edition Champion? Or the 1st Champion for that matter.)

How about that tournament format huh? A solitary win by the RP National Team will send them straight to the quarterfinals. The last qualifier for Group B. Coach Chot Reyes has been battling (read: reasoning) two fronts in the four games they have played thus far. Injuries and Imports.

Injuries to half of the team (Danny Seigle, Jimmy Alapag, Mick Penissi, Tony Dela Cruz) is affecting the play and the rotation of the team.

Second, the inclusion of dominant imports from other teams is giving Chot Reyes some problems. I just don’t know why he is putting it on the opponents. Going to basketball wars, he can not pick his foe. His team should be able to handle the seven footers of the world. It’s not like he won’t be facing more seven footers in future qualifiers and the in the Olympics.

Simply put, where Coach Chot Reyes is putting the losses, Injuries and Imports, both these reasons are part and parcel of a basketball game. He should be able to live and minimize the injuries and contend with the imports, big or small.

(There is an interesting article from Beth Celis of PDI about Derek Pumaren’s disgust upon seeing his boys (Taulava and Ritualo), back from the U.S. trip. Pumaren thought, they gained some pounds after the supposedly rigid training they did in the U.S. As you know, injuries are likely to happen to unconditioned players. I Just can find the damn link. Inquirer’s archive search doesn’t work.)

Full game recap here. Boxscore here.

Image from FIBAASIA.NET.

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  • Stephen

    I agree with you. The Philippine team, whatever its composition, should learn how to deal with the really tall and dominant post players of other countries if we want other Asian teams to start sweating once they find out they’re going up against the Philippine team.

    I haven’t had the luxury to watch these games, but I have a sinking feeling that one of the reasons we aren’t doing so well is the same reason why USA Basketball is where it is right now. The bias is continuously moving towards flashy individualistic plays by superstars, and the fundamentals of basketball are constantly being taken for granted. For example, take a look at the rule changes in the NBA that allow Kobe to score 81 because perimeter defense is sorely handicapped. Similarly, look at the most popular players in the PBA. I’d say that four out of five make that list because they’re flashy and play great individual basketball, while only one makes the list because of how well he plays within a system based on sound fundamentals of team basketball.

    It’s good for the PBA, which still faces the daunting task of reclaiming lost glory in a nation gaga over the game, but not its professional league. However, I doubt it would be good for our country’s basketball program. Ever wonder why BTV only airs the Euroleague games once a week? Do people even watch these games? If you’re a student of the game, then maybe you do appreciate the finer points of positioning and coordinated movement, but if you’re a fan, you’d find it boring, similar to what a lot of people would think about a Spurs vs. Pistons NBA Finals. Plain ugly. Efficient, but just plain ugly.

    I guess this is a dilemma that both the PBA and the NBA face: Basketball that gets fans out of their seats is seldom the same basketball that brings home the bacon.

  • http://hideyourmonkey.blogspot.com becypher

    thanks stephen. honestly, i haven’t seen the games as well. just sounding off from press releases, forums, boxscore and the general feeling.

    regarding individual and flashy play, this may be the reason why mark caguioa is relatively quiet during the stretch?

  • Stephen

    It could be a major reason. I haven’t actually watched Mark Caguioa play a quarter of basketball, but I understand he’s a slashing guard that has great individual skills.

    Remember the recently concluded World Championships? If you did a search on video highlights for Team USA, I’m thinking 8 out of 10 would be fastbreak plays. The J-A-W connection and the rest of that squad was stumped by the European zones, and didn’t get much in the way of fantastic plays. There were actually times when that team just seemed lost against the zone.

  • http://chrisangelo.multiply.com Chrisangelo

    Well, hoorah!!

    On the picture: Looking at the five guards sitting, I see perfection. lol

  • http://WWW,YAHOO.COM thatsmee

    CHECK THIS LINK ABOUT THE UNFIT RP TEAM?CHECK THEIR BOTOX TOO..

    http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/sports/view_article.php?article_id=65116

  • http://hideyourmonkey.blogspot.com becypher

    ^cool. thats the one I read.

  • http://WWW,YAHOO.COM thatsmee

    I KNEW SOMEBODY FROM INQUIRER THAT GIVE THIS LINK :-)

  • http://WWW,YAHOO.COM thatsmee

    sana manalo sa LEBANON ang RP TEAM. para wala na doubt ko

  • http://WWW,YAHOO.COM thatsmee

    http://www.asia-basket.com/phi/phi.asp

    we won against Lebanon then lost to Syria.

    The next game against Qatar’s Al Rayyan for third place

  • bionix

    phil nt finished 4th. middle of the pack. assuming we consider mick and asi as locals, 4th is not bad considering other teams were powered by imports and naturalized foreign players.

    http://www.fibaasia.net/Website%20files/18thFACCup/FINAL%20STANDINGS.pdf

  • http://chrisangelo.multiply.com Chrisangelo

    ^Agree

  • http://WWW,YAHOO.COM thatsmee

    WE WERE BRACKETED WITH JAPAN, SYRIA AND QATAR

    http://www.asia-basket.com/phi/phi.asp

  • http://hideyourmonkey.blogspot.com/ becypher

    thatsme thanks for the link, but we’re grouped with china, jordan, iran.

    from asia-basket….

    Team Pilipinas found itself in the toughest bracket of the coming FIBA Asia Championship in Tokushima, Japan after being bracketed in Group A or the so-called “Group of Death” with defending champion and Asian Games gold medalist China, Asian Games bronze medalist Iran and fast rising Asian basketball powerhouse and Asian Games semi-finalist Jordan.

  • http://WWW,YAHOO.COM thatsmee
  • michael graham

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  • http://twiche_08yahoo.com twinnie marie

    grabi hanip…..ang galing u lahat….parati ko kau pina nNod sa mga games nyo….

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