PBA: Coach Yeng happy over RP players' commitment

MANILA, Nov. 18 (PNA) -- National coach Yeng Guiao expressed elation Tuesday at the interest and commitment shown by all the players picked to the 14-man roster for the RP-PBA team competing in two crucial international tournaments next year.

Guiao, who met his team for the first time, welcomed the players during a dinner arranged by PBA commissioner Renauld 'Sonny' Barrios at Kamayan-EDSA.

Also present were former Sen. Robert S. Jaworski, who described his years as a national player as the "best times" of his basketball career, RP team manager Tony Chua, ex-national coach and Talk 'N Text mentor Chot Reyes, Michael Ong of Yakult, and assistant coaches Gee Abanilla and Roehl Nadurata.

Except for Sta. Lucia Realty's Kelly Williams, who was ailing, those who attended the RP squad's first "bonding sessions" were Willie Miller and Sonny Thoss of Alaska, Kerby Raymundo and James Yap of Purefoods, Mick Pennisi of San Miguel, Ryan Reyes of Sta.. Lucia, Jayjay Helterbrand of Ginebra, Ranidel de Ocampo and Arwind Santos of Air21, Asi Taulava of Coca-Cola, Gabe Norwood of Rain or Shine, Cyrus Baguio of Red Bull, and Jared Dillinger of Talk 'N Text.

"I think the players were very receptive to the initial exchange of ideas," said Guiao, who laid down his plans and philosophies for the Southeast Asian Basketball (SEABA) Championship in May 2009, the qualifying tournament for the August FIBA-Asia Championship in Guangzhou, China.

The latter is the qualifier for the 2010 World Championship in Istanbul, Turkey, which is the ultimate goal of the sixth PBA-backed RP team from 1990, the year Jaworski led an all-pro selection to the Beijing Asian Games.

"We have to win big in SEABA," Guiao told his team. "If we can win by 40 points or 50, then we should go ahead and do it."

The fiery mentor was more circumspect with the tougher FIBA-Asia tournament.

"We're not putting pressure on ourselves," Guiao said. "We're not going to tell the whole country that we could beat China. We're not making any predictions. Our overall objective of making it to the World Championship is realistic but difficult."

Guiao also spoke of the "sacrifices and big adjustments" that the players will have to make, promising, in the end, "that you're going to have lots of fun."

Easily the highlight of the affair was Jaworski's recollection of his days as a national player.

"It is the best legacy that you can give your family, especially your children and your grandchildren – that of having played for your country and that you have done your best," said Jaworski, a member of the RP team to the 1968 Mexico Olympics and the 1974 World Championship in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

"Playing for the national team is a very unifying experience," Jaworski said. "Unlike in the PBA when the coliseum is divided, when you go to a foreign land the whole nation is behind you."

Barrios answered questions regarding the team's calendar, providing the players a history of the SEABA participation and the RP team's planned trips to the Jones Cup tournament in Taipei and an invitational joust in the Middle East.

"Sen. Jaworski delivered a very important message, touching on the required commitment for flag and country," said Barrios. "I believe the players realized how much the experience meant to him."

The RP team assembles every Monday at The Arena in San Juan starting 6 p.m.

Guiao also left the door ajar on the question of inviting more players to the pool.