Asiad team down to 12 before Aug. 15 deadline

Jong Uichico, head coach of the Philippine basketball team that will compete in the forthcoming Asian Games in Busan, South Korea, will have to come up with a 12-man lineup on or before Aug. 15, the deadline set by the Philippine Olympic Committee for the submission of named entries.

The 13 countries disputing the cage gold, however, will be allowed to make final changes in their lineups during the team managers’ meeting on Sept. 26, three days before the opening ceremonies of the quadrennial event which ends Oct. 14.

Therefore, the coaching staff has decided bring all 15 players of the RP-Selecta team seeing action in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup to Busan. But three of them will have to be accredited as "extra officials" since the forms sent by the Busan organizers did not include any for alternates or reserves.

"The PBA will have to choose 12 players before Aug. 15 and then they can bring along the three others in case the coaching staff wants to make some changes. It’s only after the team managers’ meeting that the lineup will become official," said Basketball Association of the Philippines sec-gen Graham Lim yesterday.

"Bringing in players accredited as extra officials, and later on tapping them as replacements is a common practice in international competitions," added the BAP official.

According to acting PBA media bureau chief Ricky Santos, the league has already submitted the names of the 15 players to the BAP, and that their travel documents are now being processed.

But who among them will be accredited, as players, will have to be determined soon.

The RP dribblers are expected to leave for Busan on Sept. 23, the formal opening of the athletes’ village. They are Danny Ildefonso, Asi Taulava, Eric Menk, Mick Pennisi, Andy Seigle, Danny Seigle, Rudy Hatfield, Dennis Espino, Kenneth Duremdes, Jeffrey Cariaso, Noy Castillo, Olsen Racela, Chris Jackson, Dondon Hontiveros and Boyet Fernandez.

Santos added that they have yet to receive the official tournament schedule since Busan organizers have apparently decided to push the start of the cage competition to probably a couple of days after the opening ceremonies due to the smaller number of competing teams.

The Philippines, which last won the Asiad cage gold 40 years ago, fell into Group C along with the United Arab Emirates and India and, in the process, has avoided a dreaded semis encounter with powerhouse and reigning champion China.

In Group A are China, Hong Kong and Lebanon; Group B Korea, Japan and Mongolia; and Group D Kazakhstan, Chinese-Taipei, Qatar and Kuwait. Under the bracketing, the Philippines might end up meeting the Koreans in the semis.

Meanwhile, action in the Commissioner’s Cup resumes today at the Philsports Arena with Red Bull, already assured of the No. 1 spot in the quarterfinal round, taking on FedEx at 7 p.m. The Express, with a 4-4 record, still have a chance of making it to the top four where each of the teams will enjoy a twice-to-beat advantage in the next round.