The core of Rain or Shine team to be handled by coach Yeng Guiao will comprise the Philippine team seeing action in the 18th Asian Games in Indonesia.
At least seven to eight Elasto Painters will be included in the pool of players to be submitted by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas to the Indonesia Asian Games Organizing Committee (INASGOC), together with three members of the Gilas cadets, a few big men from NLEX, of which Guiao is the coach, and Fil-Am and NBA stalwart Jordan Clarkson.
The SBP, in consultation with Guiao, is looking to submit the list to INASGOC by Friday.
“We’ve been way past the deadline so we’re pushing him, rushing him [coach Yeng] to really come up with the lineup already,” said SBP president Al Panlilio, who was joined by league commissioner Willie Marcial, and Rain or Shine board representative Atty. Mamerto Mondragon during a mini-press conference that followed the regular monthly PBA board meeting on Thursday.
During the meeting, the board formalized its approval of Rain or Shine as the lead team that will overlook the country’s campaign in the Aug. 18 to Sept. 2 Asian showcase.
Panlilio said Guiao has the list of Rain or Shine players he’d like to be part of the team along with cadet players Ricci Rivero, Kobe Paras, and Abu Tratter.
For good measure, the SBP official said Guiao is also working out on possibly getting some of NLEX’s big men be included in the pool.
“I spoke to coach Yeng kanina and he was even thinking of including Asi [Taulava] to help out in guarding the big guys from the other teams,” said Panlilio of the veteran center, who played during the 2002 Asiad in Busan, South Korea.
As for the 6’5” Clarkson, the SBP president said it’s all up to INASGOC whether to approve his accreditation or not if indeed, the Cleveland Cavaliers stalwart is eligible to play under the Asiad rule.
The short window of forming a team for the quadrennial meet has also forced the PBA to stand by its earlier decision to just send one ball club to the Asiad so as not to affect the schedule of the season-ending Governors’ Cup.
TnT Katropa was originally the one tasked to form a team bound for Indonesia, but begged off at the last minute following the melee that marred the FIBA World Cup qualifier between Gilas Pilipinas and Australia.
“Pinag-usapan pa last board meeting na one team lang para hindi masira ang schedule. One team naman lang talaga ang policy nu’n,” said Marcial.
In this regard, Panlilio expressed how grateful the SBP is to both Rain or Shine and the PBA for again addressing the call for flag and country.
“I’d like to thank Rain or Shine for really stepping up to the plate in their commitment to our Gilas program, at least in the Asian Games,” said Panlilio, who is also Meralco’s representative to the league board.