TIANJIN – Veteran Asi Taulava and rookie Japeth Aguilar expressed confidence on the Powerade Team Pilipinas’ chances in the 25th FIBA Asia Men’s Championship, raring to see action against Sri Lanka tomorrow at the Tianjin gym here.
The two centers, along with nine other members of the team plus three reserves and officials arrived in this bustling industrial city – 167 kilometers southeast of Beijing – after a tiring trip of almost 10 hours from Manila.
Team RP was the sixth team to check in at the official hotel.
Settling in their hotel rooms at almost five in the afternoon, coach Yeng Guiao opted not to call for a practice, reserving the team for a workout today in preparation for their opening game against unfancied Sri Lanka.
“We’re ready to go, ready to play,” said Taulava, the team captain. “We had a good practice back home and it was one of our best.”
“I’m pretty excited but anxious at the same time because I want to know how are we going to fare after all our preparations and adjustments,” Aguilar said. “But I am confident that we will have a good result here.”
The RP-Sri Lanka match is set at 9 a.m. tomorrow ushering in a heavy eight-game opening bill in the tournament featuring the best and finest teams in the region. Games will be played in two venues.
Taulava downplayed the team’s losses in the William Jones Cup tournament in Taipei last week where the country finished sixth with a 2-6 record.
“The record is zero-zero; it doesn’t matter what happened before,” he said. “As I’ve told my teammates, ‘we have a good chance for a win, let’s make the best of it.’”
Aguilar, this year’s No. 1 draftee in the PBA, said he believes the losses in the Jones Cup have their upside.
“We learned from our losses, what we need to work on,” he said.
At press time, Lebanon, Kuwait, Jordan, Korea and Qatar are the other teams, which have also checked in their quarters.
The Kuwaitis were in the same PAL flight with the Nationals from Manila. Like the Lebanese, the Kuwaitis pitched camp in Manila before proceeding here.
Lebanon left Manila Monday morning, taking the circuitous route of Manila-Shanghai-Beijing before going on a two-hour road trip to this charming city by the bay.
Yet to be seen are the Sri Lankans, the only team the Filipinos have not scouted.
“We have zero scouting of this team. We don’t see them play,” said Guiao.
Guiao and his chargers, however, are confident they can easily handle the Sri Lankans, qualifiers from a regional grouping featuring cricket-playing nations India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
After the Sri Lankans, the Nationals will take on the Japanese Friday and then collide with the Koreans Sunday.
James Yap will miss the RP-Sri Lanka game as he will attend the funeral of her mother-in-law, former President Cory Aquino.
Guiao opted to stick with his original 12 of Yap, Asi Taulava, Japeth Aguilar, Sonny Thoss, Mick Pennisi, Kerby Raymundo, Arwind Santos, Gabe Norwood, Cyrus Baguio, Jayjay Helterbrand, Jarred Dillinger and Willie Miller.
Though failing to make it to the roster, Ryan Reyes, Ranidel de Ocampo and Wynne Arboleda flew with the team here.
Team manager JB Baylon and PBA media bureau chief Willy Marcial went here ahead of the group Sunday to take care of the team’s needs.
The PBA board of governors will follow suit and will hold its planning session here on Aug. 9-11.
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