The PBA could never turn its back on representing the country in international competitions and must adjust its sights accordingly.

This was stressed by Powerade-Team Pilipinas coach Yeng Guiao, who said a mid-range program that should rival those of the Asian powerhouse teams will have to be put in place, adding it could only be done when the PBA starts thinking out of the box and learn to bite the bullet.

"We cannot go on selling the perception that we are the best in Asia when every time na lumabas tayo talo," Guiao told a group of Filipino reporters here during a break in the 25th FIBA-Asia Men’s Championship. "Parang the public is being short-changed."

The Philippines’ recent losses in the international arena, Guiao added, was due mainly to the absence of a program that looks at the future instead of just the present, exemplified best by any PBA-backed team virtually starting from scratch.

"The next time you want to compete in an international competition, back to zero ka na naman. ‘Yung experience mo ngayon di mo magagamit," he pointed out. "So mag-aaral ka na naman, isasanay mo na naman ang mga players.

"Hindi mo na-accumulate ‘yung knowledge (of international play). Dapat sana nagpo-progress ka. ‘Yung Korean team accumulated lahat ng knowledge nila. ‘Yung Chinese-Taipei accumulated nila lahat iyun."

The PBA’s agreement with the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas for the former to represent the country abroad expires after this World Championship qualifier and the latter has a program that is set to take over.

But Guiao insisted the country’s best players will be in the PBA in their prime, that’s why the SBP will still turn to the pro league for RP teams to international competitions.

In anticipation of such an SBP request, Guiao batted for the PBA to come up with a program that will involve a selection and have it practice together in-between conferences or seasons and represent the country when needed.

"Huwag na nating guluhin ang PBA schedule," he reasoned. "Kapag break, lalabas, play abroad. In one or two years pag-aaralan natin ang sistema sa labas."

The experience can only make the PBA players better and more attuned to international play and will also help improve the quality of play in the PBA, he maintained.

"Mai-improve mo ang level ng competition," he stated. "Iba na ang level, kasi kung tayo-tayo rin lang ang laging naghaharap, parang in-breeding lang iyan."

Guiao insisted he is not broaching the idea to perpetuate himself as RP coach.

-Malaya

HE may be a part of the Powerade-Team Pilipinas for only a week, but Ginebra coach Jong Uichico said that the squad battling for pride and honor in the Fiba Asia Men’s Basketball Championships in Tianjin, China, is right on target.

“They’re on the right track,” the multi-titled mentor told Standard Today after the team lost to Korea Saturday. “A 2-1 record is better than being down 1-2. I think they’re doing just fine.”

Uichico joined head coach Yeng Guiao and the other members of the coaching staff on the bench when the squad competed in the annual William Jones Cup in Taipei. He helped make the scouting report and became an integral part in the selection process of the Final 12 for Tianjin.

For Uichico, Guiao and his troop can definitely surpass the RP team’s previous ninth-place finish in the same tournament in Tokushima two years ago.

“We have a big chance of reaching the next round. If we reach the next round, that means Top 8 na agad tayo,” said Uichico, who was a teammate of Guiao with the La Salle High School team in the NCAA. “But realistically, we can do better. Another 2-1 record would mean 4-2 na ‘yung record natin and that means we will be at least in the Top 4. Of course, we want to avoid being at no. 4. Our target would possibly be in the top three to avoid a confrontation with the top squad.”

An eight-time PBA champion, Uichico said the Philippines matches up well against Japan, Korea and Chinese Taipei. The bigger problem he sees for the Philippines are the teams from the Middle East, as well as host China.

“The Middle East countries both have size and speed and after 35 or 40 minutes, we are all banged up and exhausted,” said Uichico

-Manila Standard Today

RAIN or Shine has just added a veteran presence to young Philippine Basketball Association team.

The Elasto Painters tabbed 6’7” center/forward Mark Telan from the Coca-Cola Tigers late Friday to beef up its small frontline.

Coca-Cola board representative JB Baylon, who is in Tianjin, China, confirmed to Standard Today in an online interview that they have agreed to trade Telan for future second-round picks.

“We have agreed to trade Mark [Telan]. It was part of the direction we want to undergo this season,” said Baylon, who is in China as team manager for the Powerade-Team Pilipinas basketball team in the Fiba Asia Men’s Basketball Championships. “We want a faster and younger team.”

A 10-year veteran, who was a direct hire by Tanduay back in 1999, the 33-year-old Telan averaged 11.4 points and 8.1 rebounds per game in last season’s Philippine Cup.

-Manila Standard Today

MANNY Pacquiao said he would be very happy to fight for the World Boxing Council’s newly-minted “Diamond Belt,” adding he appreciates the offer made by WBC president Don Jose Sulaiman.

Sulaiman told Pacquiao’s adviser Michael Koncz early Friday about the WBC’s plan to institute the Diamond Belt for elite fighters at catch weights.

Koncz, who was with Pacquiao when Standard Today called, said the Filipino champion was pleased and honored to fight for the belt, since he has been a longtime WBC champion in different weight divisions and has proudly worn its belts in the past.

The adviser said he would meet with Top Rank promoter Bob Arum next week in the US and inform him that Pacquiao wishes to fight World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Miguel Cotto for the WBC Diamond Belt on Nov. 14.

Sulaiman said the WBC board of governors had voted unanimously to implement the Diamond Belt concept, which they said will help promoters and television networks “looking for highly interesting and passionate battles for the benefit of boxing fans around the world.”

In a press statement, the WBC said it believes this belt will play a very important role in modern boxing as the catch weight fights between elite boxers have not been a complete success due to the fact that nothing is at stake.

Under the proposal, the WBC wants promotions to render homage to the two greatest fighters of such division, who will be showcased in the battle for the belt.

Sulaiman said the belt will use the same design as the famous WBC green and gold belt, but the material will include 18-karat gold fusion and will be encrusted with 598 diamonds, 196 emeralds, 6 rubies and 150 other semi-precious stones.

-Manila Standard Today

TALK N Text, a team seeking to become the first squad to defend an All-Filipino crown in 24 years, has just added another important ingredient to its winning formula.

Nic Belasco, a 6’7” veteran journeyman, was acquired by the Tropang Texters via a three-team trade involving Coca-Cola and Burger King. The 12-year veteran will be joining his fifth squad.

Belasco’s inclusion will certainly add depth to the Tropang Texters’ frontline rotation. He will be reunited with former frontline partner Ali Peek.

The other frontliners on the squad include national team standout Ranidel de Ocampo, Harvey Carey and Yousif Aljamal.

The Tropang Texters are still now negotiating with 6’9” slotman Yancy de Ocampo, whose contract expired last month.

“We’re talking to him and I believe we will be able to sign him up,” Talk N Text board representative Ricky Vargas told Standard Today.

The Whopper got 6’7” forward Rob Reyes on the deal, while the Tigers secured the services of hardworking Larry Rodriguez.

The trade was floated during the Rookie Draft, but was only consummated yesterday as the Tropang Texters needed time to decide which player to unload.

Reyes, a promising player who spent most of his time sitting on the bench, was the chosen one.

Whether the Whopper would keep him or use him as part of another possible trade transaction remains to be seen. Burger King is planning to unload two more frontliners.

The season-starting All-Filipino Conference begins on Oct. 11.

-Manila Standard Today

The musical chairs have once again come out in the Philippine Basketball Association. In the last fortnight, player movements have been aplenty in the local pro league with all parties involved angling to get the best possible talent to help them in their respective causes next season.

First to pull a trade were the Fiesta Conference champions San Miguel Beermen who acquired the do-it-all forward Arwind Santos from the Burger King Whoppers. In exchange, the Whoppers got forwards Marc Pingris and Ken Bono and the Beermen’s first-round rookie pick next year. The inclusion of Pingris somehow came as a surprise since he played a big part in San Miguel’s recent championship run and that in the run-up to the trade big man Samigue Eman was the one being dangled with Bono and veteran Chris Calaguio. Interestingly enough, Burger King released Pingris no sooner to the Purefoods TJ Giants for the latter’s first and second-round draft picks in 2010.

Hoping to build on their major strides the past season, the Rain or Shine Elastopainters went out and got themselves a couple of pistoleros in Jeff Chan and Mike Hrabak from the Barako Bull Energy Boosters. In return, ROS gave up veteran Rob Wainwright and center Mark Andaya. Chan and Hrabak are going to be counted on to spread out the floor for their new team with their outside gunslinging to open up things for ROS’ big men and slashers.

Getting help for their frontline are the Sta. Lucia Realtors who got the much-improved forward Gabby Espinas from Barako Bull for this year's seventh pick. If Espinas continues with his improving play, he will be a boon to the Realtors with Marlou Aquino and Espino advancing in age and Kelly Williams coming off a bout with a serious blood disorder.

After making national player Japeth Aguilar the no. 1 pick in this year’s draft and getting Bono in the San Miguel trade, Burger King got further help via the explosive Ronjay Buenafe from the Coca-Cola Tigers for the rights over no. 3 pick Chris Ross, guard Marvin Cruz and its 13th pick in the recent draft. Buenafe is expected to somehow fill the offensive vacuum left by Santos along with staple Gary David. BK also acquired the rights to no. 18 pick Orlando Daroya from the Barangay Ginebra Kings.

Coca-Cola, for its part, got itself busy as well as aside from Ross and Cruz, it took guard Jojo Duncil and forward Larry Rodriguez from Barako Bull and rookie Francis Allera for the 13th pick from Burger King. Talk is also rife that sniper Ren-Ren Ritualo of the Talk ’N Text Tropang Texters is set to join the squad for veteran Nic Belasco.

Another far-reaching trade coming on the heels of the recent rookie draft was that involving sister teams Purefoods and Ginebra with Burger King serving as conduit. The Giants released Enrico Villanueva, Rich Alvarez, Celino Cruz and Paolo Bugia to the Kings in exchange for the rights to no. 8 pick Chris Timberlake, guard Paul Artadi and Rafi Reavis. Villanueva and Alvarez are set to shore up the battered Ginebra frontline while Artadi is to revisit his old job with the Giants as playmaker and on-court partner to James Yap. Second-year player Cholo Villanueva also joins Ginebra from Burger King.

-Malaya

The Celtics and Bulls have played a playoff-record four overtime games, a fifth game was decided in the final seconds of regulation ... and there's still one more game to be played in this thrilling first-round series. Here's a look at how seventh-seeded Chicago and defending champion Boston arrived at a winner-take-all Game 7.



There isn’t much else to say about this game but simply amazing. The Bulls ended up pulling this out in triple overtime 128-127. Ray Allen’s 51 points and 9 three-pointers were wasted by a more balanced Chicago Bulls attack (5 players in double figures). The real difference came in triple overtime when the Celtics already without Kevin Garnett had 3 starters fouled out of the game (Paul Pierce, Glen Davis, and Kendrick Perkins). The final decisive play came at 128-127 and Rajon Rondo penetrated and then faded away and was rejected by the impressive rookie Derrick Rose. Rose then gained control of the ball and was fouled by Brian Scalabrine in the front court. Rose proceeded to clank two free throws with 3.2 seconds remaining but the Celtics were without a timeout and Rondo heaved a half-courter that was way off: on to Game 7.