Texters, Kings join RP invitational

Talk n Text and Barangay Ginebra beef up the cast in Philippine Invitational Challenge Cup as they join Smart Gilas Pilipinas and two foreign teams in the tournament slated June 24-27 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

“The PBA has confirmed the participation of Talk n Text and Ginebra as guest teams in the invitationals,” said Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director Noli Eala. “This should be a good tournament.”

Meanwhile, Eala said the SBP is looking for a television partner for the coverage of the tournament which serves as part of Smart Gilas buildup for the Guangzhou Asian Games this November and the 2011 FIBA-Asia Championship.

The 2011 FIBA-Asia meet serves as a qualifier for the 2012 London Olympics.

Joining Smart Gilas, TnT and Ginebra in the tournament are the national team of Jordan and the Dong Guan club of the Chinese Basketball Association.

“Smart Gilas is using all the international exposures it could play in to train and prepare for the Asian Games this November and FIBA-Asia Championship next year,” said Smart Gilas team manager Frankie Lim.

“The ultimate goal is to make the Olympics so every game is important,” he said.

The Filipinos are also scheduled to join the William Jones Cup International Invitational tournament set July 13-21 at the Taipei County’s Sinjhuang Stadium in Chinese Taipei.

The Jones Cup field also includes two national teams from Chinese Taipei, the national squads of Japan and Lebanon, the second team of Iran and a club team from Western Australia.

After the Jones Cup, Smart Gilas will see action next in the Stankovic Cup in Lebanon in August where the Nationals hope to size up the Asian competition similar to the Dubai Invitational last January and the FIBA-Asia Champions Cup in Doha, Qatar last month where the Filipinos wound up seventh.