Pilipinas sends Jones Cup core to FIBA Asia

Marked men: Norwood and Chan
(and Tenorio)

After all the drama following the highly successful 34th William Jones Cup campaign where Pilipinas finished with the gold medal, we will be sending the same group of players to the FIBA Asia Cup this September 14 in hopes of better preparing ourselves for the FIBA Asia Championship next year.

The road won't be any easier from here on out, with Pilipinas being put in the same group as China (though they're "only" sending their B team), Lebanon, Macau and Uzbekistan while the other group features Chinese-Taipei, Iran, Japan, Qatar and India FI. Okay, only Lebanon poses a real threat it seems in our group since Macau and Uzbekistan's basketball programs are still developing.

On our final roster are Marcus Douthit, JayR Reyes (Meralco), Enrico Villanueva (Barako Bull), Mac Baracael (Alaska), Sonny Thoss (Alaska), Jeffrei Chan (Rain or Shine), Gabe Norwood (Rain or Shine), Ranidel de Ocampo (Talk 'n' Text), Larry Fonacier (Talk 'n' Text), Garvo Lanete (rookie free agent), Matt Roser (rookie free agent) and the talk/toast-of-the-town, Jones Cup Most Valuable Player  L.A. Tenorio (Ginebra).

Sol Mercado (Meralco) was stricken off the list as a precaution because of eligibility issues. We all know he's Filipino, but there's no telling what lengths our Asian neighbors would go to just to ensure their own chances (remember the whole Chris Lutz and Marcio Lassiter brouhaha a few years back?). In his place is livewire Jarred Dillinger (Talk 'n' Text) who doesn't bring in the same attack strength as Mercado, but slashes to the basket with reckless abandon altogether. Look for this guy to be a vital cog in the FIBA campaign being familiar with Coach Chot Reyes' system and serving the country for the 2nd time in his career.

While the battlecry last Jones Cup was clearly "PUSO" because of our knack for getting wins the hard way-- climbing all the way back up from double digit deficits, this simply cannot be the pattern going forward. We have the best players that could be assembled given the time frame and other factors, height could be an issue as well as frontline depth but this is the team that we have and we must support it in any way we can.

How far can Coach Chot's "dribble drive (and kick)" offense will take us? We're about to find out. Teams were unable to prepare for what was to come from Pilipinas since this is an entirely new team from Coach Rajko Toroman's time. But now that they have about eight games worth of game tape to break it down, expect defenders to not help off Chan, David and even Tenorio.

Kapit bayan! Laban Pilipinas!