RP Olympic basketball dream alive

For the Philippines, the 22-year losing streak to China could not have ended at a better time, at a better place and at a better tournament.

And in Tokushima, Japan last night, the Filipino cagers may have also shaved a few hundred kilometers out of their long and treacherous trail to the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

With their backs against the ‘Great Wall’, the Nationals scaled new heights, coming back from several double-digit deficits to pull off an inspiring 79-74 win over a Chinese squad badly missing its biggest stars.

The victory was the country’s first against the Asian powerhouse since the 1985 Asian Basketball Confederation Championships in Malaysia and it kept the Philippines’ hopes of making the quarterfinals alive in the Fiba-Asia Championships, an Olympic qualifying tournament.

Playmaker Jimmy Alapag stood way taller than his 5-foot-9 frame and Mark Caguioa shrugged off a sputtering start to combine forces with Kelly Williams in an end-game blitz that left the Chinese gasping for air and, perhaps, led them to an improbable early exit in this 16-nation tournament.

The Filipinos are not out of the woods yet, though.

They need to whip a Jordanian squad, reinforced by two naturalized Americans, in its final elimination-round match in the so-called “Group of Death” at 7 tonight.

Iran, which dealt the Philippines a 75-69 defeat Saturday night, was playing Jordan, a 78-65 winner over China, as of press deadline last night.

Limping as he left the court against Iran, Alapag won a late fitness battle and tallied a game-high 25 points on four triples, the last one at the 2:15 mark in the fourth quarter kept the Filipinos’ heads above water, 71-67.

With China enjoying a 12-point buffer midway in the third, Alapag fished fouls, hit a trey, conspiring with Kerby Raymundo, Dondon Hontiveros and Williams to put the Philippines within one 56-57 entering the fourth.

By then, China’s offense was in disarray by the Filipinos little-room-to-breathe defense. The Chinese woes were compounded when chief playmaker Ying Ming was forced to his fifth foul by Hontiveros.

A perimeter jumper from JJ Helterbrand on the opening play of the final period capped a 14-0 bomb that gave the Philippines the lead, 58-57, before Chen Chen’s triple swung the advantage back to China, 60-58.

That would prove to be China’s last taste of the lead as Helterbrand scored on a follow-up, Raymundo finished a slick spin move and Asi Taulava made another putback that was part of a 10-4 burst that made it 68-62, 5:23 remaining.

And when Qiang Bian stroked home a triple to trim the gap to one, 67-68, Alapag immediately put the dagger into the Chinese’ hearts with that booming triple that may have reverberated throughout basketball-crazy Philippines.

The last time China threatened was at 75-74 on Chen Chen’s trey with 18.4 seconds left but Caguioa, who bungled a fast-break lay-up two possessions earlier, made up for his mistake with another twinner to ice the game, 7 seconds left.

Williams registered the Philippines tenth and last steal to thwart a potential game-tying shot and the versatile Fil-American pegged the final count by converting two foul shots.

A day after shooting an atrocious 22 percent from the field against Iran, the Filipinos improved considerably at 36 percent.

Even so, it wasn’t the only glaring statistic.

There were lesser mistakes, 12 turnovers as against 16 on China, and more hustle that reflected on the rebounding battle.

With the hardworking Williams at his best, the Nationals hauled 39 rebounds, 19 on the offensive end, while China, which did not have the luxury of fielding the likes of Yao Ming, Li Janlian and Wang Zhizhi, collared 31. *

Iran 75 RP 69

The SMC-Philippine Team lost to Iran, 69-75, in its opening match in the Fiba Asia Championships in Tokushima, Japan.

As much as I want to be subtle on my comments here, I just couldn't help it.

The shooting was atrocious at 22 percent, save for late in the fourth quarter when Kerby Raymundo and Mick Penissi went to work. At halftime, it was 3-21 or 14 percent in two-point area and 2-7 or 29 percent beyond the arc.

Wow, the training in the US, tune-up games in Belgrade, the Jones Cup campaign in Taipei and the 4-nation Manila invitationals were not enough to pack our team's ammo.

The mental lapses of coach Chot Reyes and JJ Helterbrand deep in the final canto that spelled doom for the Nationals, throwing away what had been an amazing effort by Raymundo, Penissi and Kelly Williams.

The outcome could have gone the other way also if Kelly Williams and Raymundo converted important free throws.

You don't really need to fast-forward the game tape in the final two minutes game to see how these pricey PBA stars and their over-rated coach lost the game, putting the Philippines on the brink of elimination.

A loss against China tomorrow and the Filipinos kiss their title hopes goodbye. There are no injury updates on Jimmy Alapag, Danny Seigle and Asi Taulava as of posting time.

Consider the starting line-up: the oft-injured Danny Seigle (coming off a long lay-off), Jimmy Alapag, the misfiring and always scrambling Dondon Hontiveros, Asi Taulava and Williams.

Forgive me, Dondon but James Yap deserves a spot on the team over you. You may look determined but your miscues are unforgivable (remember: the Lebanon and Japan losses). James, a PBA MVP, is obviously a better shooter than you are.

I can only speculate as to why you were selected: Is it because you were a San Miguel player and your team needs to be well-represented in the Philippine Team, named after your company? But James is from the sister team, Purefoods. Purefoods, however, is not San Miguel.

Danny Seigle, why do you always have to force your shots? You're no longer in the PBA boy, you're playing international tournament, where one-on-one moves are not the in-thing. That also goes for you Mark Caguioa.

So okay, I don't want to pin down the players anymore. I just hope they do better tomorrow.

As for Chot Reyes, I remain dumbfounded. Why oh why did you have to complain to the official when your team had the momentum and could have made a good defensive stop had it not been for the technical foul. All because you wanted a travelling called on the Iranian.

Hey, those things are beyond your control. You have a strong reason to complain. But hey your team did not need that technical.

Focus on the things that you can control. How your team plays, the decisions your players make and your rotation.

I mean it took Gabe Norwood, Jimmy Alapag, Caguioa and Danny Seigle to leave the game either on fouls or injuries for you to realize that you needed Kelly Williams and Raymundo back on court.

I expect Chot to make another "its a learning process for our team" when the papers come out tomorrow. Actually, Im very excited how our colleagues who are in Tokushima covering the tournament are going to write about the Philippines' latest debacle.

Okay so you have another chance, you and our team Mr. Reyes.

Please don't let the millions spent on your team go down the drain this early. Its supposed to be our coming out party. We're supposed to enjoy this tournament and not rue the missed chance.

Hopefully, I can post something positive after the RP-China match tomorrow.

RP Team: Patriotism and commercialism

I know this post will hardly create a ripple as the Philippines begins its quest to return to Olympic basketball in Tokushima, Japan in a few hours.

Boy, the Philippine Team has gotten everyone here so excited. But really, how strong are our chances of getting past everyone in Tokushima? I say its slim. You see, the field in Tokushima is obviously tough with even Iran and Kazakhstan among the likely teams that are capable of springing a surprise. Add the fact that our pricey PBA stars we are sending aren't actually proven subjects when it comes to the international brand of play, which is free-wheeling motion passing offense and deadly three-point shooting.

Only Argentina has mastered this kind of play. And for the NBA stars, whom we look up because of their high-flying exploits, I give them a failing grade on that aspect. Sure, they're the world's finest athletes but basketball is a team game and it takes five people working together on court to pull off a big W. A few days ago, I watched the Team USA hopefuls in scrimmage and it looked more than an All-Star game rather than training for a tough tournament like the Fiba-Americas Championship. Isolation plays, like what was set up for Kobe Bryant to hit the game winner against Lebron and Co., is not the way to go.

Bryant is not an isolated case. Just watch Mark Caguioa and Jimmy Alapag later. I am pretty sure these guys will try to do the same. Chot Reyes may justify that we have the quickest guards in Asia but I still think that even if our guards play a 100 percent game-in and game-out, it doesn't ensure us an Olympic berth.

I am one with every Filipino in praying that our team overcome the odds and make the Olympics for the first time in 35 years. I just feel sick thinking that behind this sense of patriotism, lies the PBA's brand of commercialism.

I agree with Mr. Percy Della in his commentary that came out on the Inquirer Saturday. Yeah, how about the other sports where we really have a realistic chance of winning an Olympic gold like boxing. Word has it, though, that our poor pugilists, who had to share shorts during the Asian Games, are getting help from Mr Manny Pangilinan. Now, that's good news.

As for as Chot Reyes' ability to conjure quotable quotes on his team's success and failures, I also agree with Mr. Della.

We are tolerating a coach who turns his team’s failings into sports headlines and the grotesque into good news. We the sports media are playing into his hands. We can’t seem to see through the smoke and mirrors. We choose to be thunder-struck when he elevates the post-game interview into his stage. We tend to go along as he feeds the frenzy of our cage-crazed populace with the sound and fury of his quotable quotes. When are we finally going to get it? That Chot’s chatter is just that. Empty talk.

Chot wiggles his way out of criticism by providing us the quotes. He makes it appear that the team is still on a learning process. Oh really? But we buy it.

Back to PBA, the Philippine Team has become its major marketing arm. Add San Miguel to the mix. Oh sorry, I forgot, its supposed to be the San Miguel-Team Pilipinas.

I find it ironic how Mr. Noli Eala blabbers about the sacrifices of the players in the team for flag and country. I don't think so. These guys recieve the same salary when they play in the PBA. And how about this for patriotism Mr. Eala, our team is called, San Miguel-Philippines. Sure, they spent alot for the team. Even Mr. Pangilinan rolled a lot of cash as well. But hey, its all supposed to be for the flag. So how come, San Miguel is ahead of the Philippines?

So much for patriotism and commercialism.

RP cagers get back at Lebanon

The Philippines exacted revenge against Lebanon last night when it hammered out an exciting 88-83 triumph at the start of the Four-Nation Manila Invitational Basketball Tournament at the Arena in San Juan.

Slowly but surely adapting to the international brand of play, the Nationals proved too hot too handle from beyond the arc, where they made 15 out of 32 shots that eventually spelled the difference in the victory.

And no one was hotter than Renren Ritualo, who bailed out the Filipinos just as Lebanon was also starting to spew fire from the three-point area in the final period.

Ritualo engaged the Lebanese big men in a shootout midway in the final period, keeping Chot Reyes’ crew afloat as Lebanon came back from a 15-point halftime deficit.

The four-nation event is the final tournament for the Filipinos, before they vie for an Olympic berth in the Fiba-Asia Championships in Tokushima, Japan later this month.

There were shades of the Filipinos last-second defeat to Lebanon last week in the Jones Cup in Taipei when the RP cagers started to struggle and the visitors took a 71-68 lead.

But Ritualo, Jimmy Alapag, Gabe Norwood and Kelly Williams conspired for a 16-8 burst to avenge the 68-65 loss to the second-ranked team in Asia.

Ritualo canned three straight triples, the last of which tied the count at 77, and Norwood made another trey from the right flank after a defensive stop with less than three minutes left.

Playing just 18 minutes, Ritualo picked up 15 points on 5-of-9 shooting from rainbow territory, earning him player of the game honors.

Except for some forced shots near the end, Alapag was splendid in the backcourt, finishing with 14 points, including four foul shots that sealed the Lebanese’ fate. The Talk N’ Text point guard also dished seven assists.

Williams made a strong case for his inclusion in the RP Team for the Tokushima joust, plucking a crucial offensive rebound and scoring on a putback with 1:26 left, part of his 13 point, 9-rebound output.

Negrense James Yap, one of the alternates in the RP Team, missed the game due to an ankle injury he sustained during RP’s final Jones Cup game against Kazakhstan. But his performance in the Philippines’ Taipei stint, where he keyed the win against Iran, has increased his chances of making the team.

The Philippines’ next assignment will be China, a 98-94 winner over Syria in the first game yesterday.

The RP-China tussle is scheduled at 4 p.m. at the Araneta Coliseum, shortly before the PBA Annual Awards and Game Four of the PBA Finals between Alaska and Talk N’ Text, which is leading 2-1. *