25th FIBA Asia Championship 2009 [Aug 6-16 China]

[ThreeStars&aSun2]

Guessing game for Guiao's foes

Powerade Team Pilipinas coach Yeng Guiao said yesterday he'll throw off scouts during the Jones Cup on July 18-27 and keep opposing coaches guessing as to how the national squad will play at the FIBA-Asia Championships in Tianjin on Aug. 6-16.

Unpredictability has been a successful feature of Guiao's coaching style in the PBA where he has captured five titles and it's the same formula he has in mind for Tianjin.

Guiao said he plans to bring 15 players, including former Ateneo and Western Kentucky center Japeth Aguilar, to the Jones Cup in Taipei but will play only 12 a game. If Kelly Williams is unable to join, Guiao mentioned he will not tap a replacement.

Ten teams will play in the Jones Cup -- Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Kazakhstan, Japan, Korea, South Africa, the Philippines and two Chinese-Taipei squads.

Guiao said he's sure the Powerade team was scouted by China during the SEABA tournament in Medan recently.

"I saw Chinese taking videos of our games and I'm sure they weren't locals," said Guiao. "I really wanted to put on a show for China. I knew that China had the choice of which group to join (in the FIBA-Asia draw) and all I wanted was for us not to be in the same group. It was the first time China saw us play as a team in Medan. I think the plan worked."

The Philippines went unbeaten in four games in the SEABA meet and averaged a whopping victory margin of 38 points.

At the FIBA-Asia draw in Tianjin the other day, China evaded the Philippines and picked Group C with Kazakhstan, Qatar and India.

"I don't think China was avoiding Japan and certainly not Sri Lanka," said Guiao. "Korea is always a tough opponent for China but it's possible we were the country China wanted to avoid. No, we didn't scare off China. No country in Asia can worry China. Maybe, they just avoided possible complications."

The Philippines was drawn to Group A with Korea, Japan and Sri Lanka.

Guiao said he couldn't be happier with the draw. "As long as we're not in the same group as China, we'll be fine," he went on. "It's a one-game knockout in the quarterfinals so the chances are 50-50. Then, it'll be another one-game knockout in the semifinals."

A one-game knockout format favors underdogs who might be able to catch the favorites on a bad day.

Guiao said he expects the Philippines, Iran, Korea and Japan to qualify for the quarterfinals from Groups A and B and China, Lebanon, Jordan and Kazakhstan to advance from Groups C and D. The teams will be ranked according to their win-loss records and in the crossover quarterfinals, it will be No. 1 A-B vs. No. 4 C-D, No. 2 A-B vs. No. 3 C-D, No. 1 C-D vs. No. 4 A-B and No. 2 C-D vs. No. 3 A-B.

Guiao said he picked Kazakhstan over Qatar to make it to the quarterfinals because of the size factor. He also noted that Kazakhstan has an "awkward" style that's tough to read.

Guiao said he's definitely taking Aguilar to Taipei.

"Japeth is arriving in Manila on June 26," he said. "He hasn't decided whether or not to join the PBA draft this August but when he comes, he'll study his options then make his decision. He's now 24 and from a practical point of view, he should consider that if he plays for Smart-Gilas the next three years, he'll be 27 or 28 by the time he joins the PBA. That might be a little late for a rookie."

Guiao said he is in close touch with Aguilar's father Peter, a fellow Capampangan and former PBA cager who lives in Chicago. "I think the Aguilars know the value of utang na loob and we've helped out their family in many ways in the past," he continued.

Guiao joked that when Aguilar flies in, he'll bring the 6-9 wunderkind to the Burger King camp to acclimatize. If Guiao advises Aguilar to join the PBA draft, the betting is he will. Joaquin Henson - The Philippine Star

 

[ThreeStars&aSun2]

Guiao: Aguilar to have big role in RP 5's running game


Korea and Japan, two East Asian powerhouse squads and the Philippines' toughest rivals in Group A of the FIBA Asia Championship, are expected exploit to use their firepower to the hilt.

The Filipinos will bank on their versatility and running game.

This makes Japeth Aguilar, the 6-foot-9 son of former PBA player Peter Aguilar, so special.

"Japeth will be a good match up against any big guy in the region, particularly in our bracket," said Powerade-Team Pilipinas coach Yeng Guiao, who told GMANews.TV that the second-generation cager would join the team's practice anytime soon. "He can use his versatility against the Koreans and the Japanese."

Aguilar would most likely play both forward spots and share minutes with co-captain Kerby Raymundo, Ranidel de Ocampo, Arwind Santos and Kelly Williams, who might be back in good condition by the time the Filipinos start competing in the FIBA World Basketball qualifier in China.

Korea and Japan were the country's old rivals in the region dating back from the 60s and 70s when Koreans Shin Dong Pa and Japan's Masatomo Taniguchi reign supreme in Asia.

Guiao said familiarity with how Korea and Japan plays is the most crucial factor in playing against them.

"I think their new coach, Hur Jae, has brought old players to the Korean national team. It could either be good or bad for them and that we still have to see," said Guiao. "I know Hur Jae as a player, but I still don't know him as a coach. But I've heard he led his team to the championship in East Asia."

Jae, who still holds the most number of points scored by a player in the World Basketball Championship with 60, became one of the best players Korea has ever produced, probably next to the legendary Shin Dong Pa.

Japan, on the other hand, also has an experienced player in Takehiko Orimo, who might be playing his last FIBA Asia tournament. He is already 39 years old, but the team is now built around several young guys, including 6-foot-9 banger Joji Takeuchi.

Guiao, the fiery Burger King mentor in the PBA, was very much relieved after the Philippines averted host China in the draw.

"Had we been bracketed with China, it would be a struggle for us. Bukod sa malalaki na sila, magagaling pa and sila pa yung host, which is a big advantage for them and a big disadvantage to our campaign," said Guiao, who has delegated his deputies Gee Abanilla and Kenneth Duremdes to scout Korea and Japan in the tournaments which they will be participating, including the William Jones Cup in Taiwan next month. GMANews.TV

 

[ThreeStars&aSun2]

I would love to filter all the news here on the forum (into non-pinoy and pinoy) so I can find stuff that is really interesting to me (I cant read the 1 Millionth post about some random-philipino player being a god on the court or how good the team will be against some other teams when RP is clearly the underdog in group A - no offense but I cant read it no more, no hate here.Just realism).

So my question is, who knows more about the Sri Lanki team ? I now asia-basket lists a NT for 2007 but dont they have any foreign-born talent? What about the Uzbekis ? Any info on them ? And please dont answer me some stuff like: I think Sri Lanka has a weak team and RP will win this one easy...bla bla bla.

you can't do anything about that.

oh by the way, here's another news



Guiao upbeat on FIBA-Asia draw, format

Coach Yeng Guiao is thrilled over the prospect of a better finish for Powerade Team Pilipinas in the Fiba-Asia Championship in August in Tianjin, China following the result of the draw and the revised format Wednesday.

In fact, the feisty mentor couldn't wait to gather the team again for training. He is also looking forward to scout the opposition in the Jones Cup in Taiwan next month.

"I'm now raring to return to practice," said Guiao, optimistic of their chance to achieve their goal of making the world meet next year.

Under the format, SBP and PBA officials believe the Nationals have a more than 50 percent chance of making the top three for a slot in the world championship in Turkey next year.

In the initial round in the eliminations, Powerade-RP is bracketed with Korea, Japan and Sri Lanka in Group A, needing only to make the top three to advance to the next phase where it plays the top three from Group B composed of Iran, Chinese Taipei, Kuwait and Uzbekistan.

"We'll meet most of the contenders in the Jones Cup. We'll be able to test their strength and scout their players," said Guiao.

"Of course, they will also be scouting us so we have to devise a strategy. Are we going there to win as many as we can? Or are we going there not showing them what this team is all about? That's being done by many international teams," Guiao said.

Iran and Kazakhstan did the trick in the 2007 Jones Cup, barely using key players whom they unleashed in the Tokushima Olympic qualifier. Both teams made the Tokushima Final Four with Iran going all the way to win the championship.

But Guiao pointed out the Jones Cup will also serve as the final basis for the coaching staff to determine the final 12 who will make RP team to the Tianjin meet.

"We intend to play all our players in the Jones Cup. Hopefully, all the guys are healthy by then. Japeth Aguilar is leaving the US on June 24 to join us," said Guiao.

Aguilar, fresh from his stint with the West Kentucky U in the US NCAA, is joining the pool composed of Asi Taulava, Mick Pennisi, Kerby Raymundo, Ranidel de Ocampo, Arwind Santos, James Yap, Cyrus Baguio, Willie Miller, Gabe Norwood, Jared Dillinger, Jayjay Helterbrand, Ryan Reyes, Sonny Thoss and Kelly Williams.

Reyes and Thoss are nursing injuries while Williams is out with a blood disorder problem.

From the A-B cluster, Korea, Japan and Chinese Taipei are three teams aside from Iran which finished better than the Philippines in Tokushima. This happened as the Philippines found itself then in the "Group of Death" with Iran, Jordan and China in the elimination round.

Korea and Chinese Taipei placed first and second in Group D with Hong Kong and Syria while Japan topped Group B featuring Lebanon, UAE and Kuwait. Korea went on to place third in the tourney with Chinese Taipei winding up sixth and Japan eighth.

Curiously, the Philippines finished with a better overall win-loss record of 5-2 as against Japan's 4-4 and Chinese Taipei's 3-5. Nelson Beltran - The Philippine Star

 

[ThreeStars&aSun2]

China stole the show


It was China's privilege as host country to choose which bracket to join in the FIBA-Asia draw in Tianjin the other day.

China's privilege extended to when to make its decision, which came after the four groups were filled with three teams each, leaving four entries, including China, unattached.

As it turned out, China chose to join Group C with Kazakhstan, Qatar and India. The last three teams to be drawn were Sri Lanka in Group A, Uzbekistan in Group B and United Arab Emirates in Group D.

Bahrain backed out to allow Chinese-Taipei to move in. Chinese-Taipei failed to qualify out of the East Asia zone and would've missed its first FIBA-Asia tournament in 24 years if not for Bahrain's withdrawal.

Curiously, the all-powerful FIBA-Asia secretary-general Dato Yeoh Choo Hock was quoted last week as saying he guaranteed Chinese-Taipei's participation despite failing to qualify. He mentioned either increasing the cast to 17 teams, from the traditional 16, or bumping off a qualifier. Sure enough, Dato Yeoh got the job done.

Chinese-Taipei finished sixth in the last FIBA-Asia Championships in Tokushima two years ago. The lofty placing was a factor in bringing Chinese-Taipei to the Tianjin fold with Bahrain out of the picture.

China's decision to join Group C drew a candid reaction from Serbian coach Rajko Toroman who piloted Iran to the FIBA-Asia title in Tokushima.

"I'm not surprised," said Toroman, now coaching the Smart-Gilas national developmental squad. "China chose the weakest group. Kazakhstan may give some teams trouble but not China. Qatar is struggling with a new coach (American Kent Davison resigned last week and was replaced by Ali Fakhro) and India couldn't even beat Kuwait in the last Stankovic Cup."

Toroman said China's style in international competitions is to slowly work to peak form.

"They use the early part of the tournament to get in shape for the playoffs," he said. "That's why they chose an easy group so they won't be too pressured. Then, they'll give it their all when the quarterfinals begin."

But it's also possible China chose Group C because in the tournament format, assuming it qualifies for the quarterfinals, it will play a relatively weak team from Groups A and B. If China picked either Group A or B, it would face a tougher qualifier from Groups C and D, where the teams are stronger, in the quarterfinals.

It's in the one-game knockout quarterfinals where favorites, like China, could get sideswiped and lose "by accident." That's why this format is like beautiful music to underdogs and darkhorses -- like the Philippines.

* * *

The format guarantees 12 teams at least six games. Here's how it works:

The four teams in each group play a round-robin starting Aug. 6. After three games, the lowest-ranked team is eliminated. The three survivors of Group A play the three survivors of Group B once each while the three survivors of Group C play the three survivors of Group D once each. The win-loss records of the 12 survivors will be carried over, except the result with the eliminated teams.

At the end of the second round, the top four finishers of Groups A-B and Groups C-D will advance to the eight-team quarterfinals. The teams will be ranked according to their win-loss carryover records. It will be No. 1 A-B vs No. 4 C-D, No. 2 A-B vs No. 3 C-D, No. 1 C-D vs No. 4 A-B and No. 2 C-D vs No. 3 A-B. Each quarterfinal pairing is a knockout affair. The winners move on to play in the one-game crossover knockout semifinals with the survivors disputing the championship.

The first three finishers will represent Asia in the World Championships in Turkey on Aug. 28-Sept. 12 next year. Four cities in Turkey will host the games involving 24 countries -- Istanbul, Ankara, Antalya and Izmir.

Of the 16 countries that played in Tokushima, only Syria and Hong Kong won't be back for Tianjin. Their spots were taken over by Sri Lanka and Uzbekistan.

SBP executive director Noli Eala, Powerade team manager J. B. Baylon of Coca-Cola and interpreter Andrew Teh represented the Philippines at the draw.

"We've got a great chance to make it to the quarterfinals," said Eala. "From being in the Group of Death in Tokushima, we're now in the Group of Hope. Our goal should be to finish either first or second entering the quarterfinals so we avoid playing either China or Lebanon in the knockout quarterfinals."

* * *

If Bahrain hadn't backed out, Eala said the Philippines would've been drawn in the second round, avoiding Japan, Qatar and Jordan in the same bracket. But when Bahrain withdrew, Chinese-Taipei sneaked in and joined Japan, Qatar and Jordan in the second round of the draw. The Philippines fell to the third round but it was still a lucky draw.

The Filipino traveling party left Manila on a PAL flight to Beijing last Tuesday morning. The group motored four hours under heavy rain to Tianjin.

The draw was held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel where the Filipinos stayed two nights before leaving for home yesterday.

"The hotel is in the airport industrial park of Tianjin," said Eala. "It's like an EPZA. The hotel itself is new and very nice but there's nothing around it except construction and empty land. Tianjin is a big city about 120 kilometers south of Beijing. When we arrived, it was so dark and cloudy and some streets were already flooded."

A wave of optimism was evident in the reactions of SBP vice chairman Ricky Vargas, PBA commissioner Sonny Barrios and Powerade team coach Yeng Guiao upon learning of the results of the draw.

Vargas called it "a lucky break." Barrios said he hopes the Powerade team will continue to be blessed with good luck in Tianjin. And Guiao said this could signal a change in the Philippines' fortunes in the FIBA-Asia Championships. Two years ago, the Philippines finished ninth despite sweeping its last four assignments, including a rematch with China.

Anyway you look at it, China was the big winner of the draw in Tianjin. But the Philippines can't complain - the Powerade team was also a winner in the lottery. Joaquin Henson, "Sporting Chance" - The Philippine Star

 

[chekov's gun]

@#$% ang mga pinoy dito na mahilig magkwento sa RP team!!! Kayo yung tinatawag ni CHot na mga henyo kasi ang gagaling niyo masyado sa analysis! di niyo ba alam yang analysis niyo sa players natin eh nababasa ng mga eskawta ng ibang bansa.... yung players nila ang i-discuss niyo thoroughly at wag ang mga players natin mga bopols!! kaya tayo nagugulpi de gulat sa tournament dahil nakakadagdag pa kadaldalan ng mga futaynang pinoy kagaya niyo!

trans: stop acting like kids and keep your cool. our time will come. no need to tell them how good rp team is

Please remember to give full translations or ask somebody for help!

 

[TechSupport2]

!@#$ ang mga pinoy dito na mahilig magkwento sa RP team!!! Kayo yung tinatawag ni CHot na mga henyo kasi ang gagaling niyo masyado sa analysis! di niyo ba alam yang analysis niyo sa players natin eh nababasa ng mga eskawta ng ibang bansa.... yung players nila ang i-discuss niyo thoroughly at wag ang mga players natin mga bopols!! kaya tayo nagugulpi de gulat sa tournament dahil nakakadagdag pa kadaldalan ng mga futaynang pinoy kagaya niyo!

trans: stop acting like kids and keep your cool. our time will come. no need to tell them how good rp team is

malaki ang chance na may pinoy na magtranslate nitong sinabi mo para makita ng lahat na isa silang desenteng at malasantong forumer kahit ang kapalit ay ang kapakanan ng ating koponan na sa una't sapul ay ang rason kung bakit tayo nandito sa wibsayt na to.

trans: does the word "makapili" rings a bell? just be nice and give your opinions but dont forget the people working for and behind our team always know better than any of us here.

 

[tamagurl872]

@#$% ang mga pinoy dito na mahilig magkwento sa RP team!!! Kayo yung tinatawag ni CHot na mga henyo kasi ang gagaling niyo masyado sa analysis! di niyo ba alam yang analysis niyo sa players natin eh nababasa ng mga eskawta ng ibang bansa.... yung players nila ang i-discuss niyo thoroughly at wag ang mga players natin mga bopols!! kaya tayo nagugulpi de gulat sa tournament dahil nakakadagdag pa kadaldalan ng mga futaynang pinoy kagaya niyo!

trans: stop acting like kids and keep your cool. our time will come. no need to tell them how good rp team is

yeah, so your not a filipino...

fu***na ka rin

para saan pa at ng-fo-forum kami...
were here to share our point of view with the others..

 

[reamily2]

yeah, so your not a filipino...

futayna ka rin

para saan pa at ng-fo-forum kami...
were here to share our point of view with the others..

youre going on something hehehe
youre time will come

 

[KevinDurant2]

He's now 24 and from a practical point of view, he should consider that if he plays for Smart-Gilas the next three years, he'll be 27 or 28 by the time he joins the PBA. That might be a little late for a rookie."

But choosing Smart Gilas would elevate his chances to have a shot at the NBA.

 

[daniel 112]

HI

HI

Hi daniab, I have one qwestion, Are Antwain Barbour and Matt Freije going to playe for the lebanese nt and when ?????

 

[fthesaint2]

To my beloved Kababayans in this forum I know I'm a newbie but let me just say we are all on the same boat. We all want our national team to succeed so there's no point in starting any animosity. We can be passionate and rock the boat but let us show our Asian brothers that we are united. May peace be with us all

 

[fthesaint2]

But choosing Smart Gilas would elevate his chances to have a shot at the NBA.

Personally I would love to see Aguilar join the Gilas program but I think one major factor that would influence his decision will be on how he judges himself on his performances in America. He should know where he stands whether he has a chance of playing above PBA standard or not. I fervently hope that he makes the right decision not just for himself but also for the BBall crazy Pinoys.

 

[macan772]

@#$% ang mga pinoy dito na mahilig magkwento sa RP team!!! Kayo yung tinatawag ni CHot na mga henyo kasi ang gagaling niyo masyado sa analysis! di niyo ba alam yang analysis niyo sa players natin eh nababasa ng mga eskawta ng ibang bansa.... yung players nila ang i-discuss niyo thoroughly at wag ang mga players natin mga bopols!! kaya tayo nagugulpi de gulat sa tournament dahil nakakadagdag pa kadaldalan ng mga futaynang pinoy kagaya niyo!

trans: stop acting like kids and keep your cool. our time will come. no need to tell them how good rp team is

Please remember to give full translations or ask somebody for help!

hahahaha.. stick your damned gun in your idiot head..

 

[ThreeStars&aSun2]

hahahaha.. stick your damned gun in your idiot head..

Chekov's Gun is an example of what we Filipinos call KSP.

 

[eliooo932]

Hi daniab, I have one qwestion, Are Antwain Barbour and Matt Freije going to playe for the lebanese nt and when ?????

Dani told us that Matt will join 3 weeks before the championship. As for Barbour, nothing yet.

 

[hadyhadwanhh0142]

Jordan is a good team,with the new naturalized player Mike Christensen and 3 jordanian abroads coming lately the 208cm Center Mitch platt,The 6-5 shooting Guard and Minnesota Div 1 NCAA Jamal Abu Shamala and 6'1 Arkansas team Imad Qahwash.

As for lebanon,we need at least to know if the Tiger is coming back,and if we are gonna get some of our lebanese abroads.

hey daniab i was watching right now the tv program(tele sport) on lbc. they said that on saturday matt freigy had signed with the national team.

2nd and that is more important i think, that i watched on the tv the lebanese national team is training and ive also watched the tiger with them(really its true but i cant remmember the source all i remmember that i watched it on saturday night on the news .

 

[jason_28c2]

Group E

1. Iran
2. South Korea
3. Philippines
4. Japan

Group F

1. China
2. Lebanon
3. Jordan
4. Kazakhstan

Quaterfinals

Iran vs. Kazahkstan = ...................
China vs. Japan = China
South Korea vs. Jordan = ...................
Lebanon vs. Philippines = ..................

Please Comment

 

[SmartGilasFan2]

Iran vs. Kazahkstan = Iran
China vs. Japan = China
South Korea vs. Jordan = South Korea
Lebanon vs. Philippines = hhhmmm (I wonder who )

 

[byblos2]

Group E

1. Iran
2. South Korea
3. Philippines
4. Japan

Group F

1. China
2. Lebanon
3. Jordan
4. Kazakhstan

Quaterfinals

Iran vs. Kazahkstan = ...................
China vs. Japan = China
South Korea vs. Jordan = ...................
Lebanon vs. Philippines = ..................

Please Comment

hope so,cause it will be easier to arrive the finals,and i want to see our power infront of the philipines,since many are talking about improvements in ur nt which must be tested

 

[nader2]

hope so,cause it will be easier to arrive the finals,and i want to see our power infront of the philipines,since many are talking about improvements in ur nt which must be tested

lets bee realistic the the 3 spots are going to be ployed between 4 countries Lebanon (with vromen freije faris and khatib )
iran counting on ahdady presence and...
china with her usual stars (missing yao)
and jordan
with her new an improved squat
and as for others like japan Korea and Philippine... are competing on th 5th 6th 7th.... place

please any one that would share his filling without an objective vue dont reply