SBP Long-Term National Pool (Vol. XX)

[nardy]

http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/374461/no-to-poc-politics-mvp


No To POC Politics – MVP
By REY BANCOD
September 22, 2012, 7:42pm

TOKYO — Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) president Manny V. Pangilinan, already embroiled in a controversy back home, doesn’t want to dip his fingers into Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) politics.

Pangilinan confirmed he was offered a spot in re-electionist POC president Jose Cojuangco Jr.’s ticket, but politely declined.

“It’s a full-time job and I don’t have the time. I can help Philippine sport in a different capacity,” said Pangilinan, here to support the Smart Gilas Pilipinas in the FIBA Asia championship.

Pangilinan has been offered the post of POC chairman.

Asked whether he supports Cojuangco’s re-election bid, Pangilinan smiled and replied: “We want to stay neutral.”

The POC will hold general elections in November and only Cojuangco has so far signified his candidacy.

POC first vice president Manny Lopez, who headed the Philippine delegation to the Summer Olympics last month in London, is rumored to be interested in challenging Cojuangco, but could not run due to technicality.

Only heads of national sports associations (NSAs) are qualified to run for POC’s top post.

To make himself eligible, Lopez is reportedly considering taking back his old post at the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP) now headed by Maynilad president Ricky Vargas.

Following boxing’s failure to land an Olympic medal, Vargas has called for elections next month to determine if he still has the trust and confidence of the country’s boxing stakeholders.

Vargas is a trusted lieutenant of Pangilinan who is also ABAP chairman.

Pangilinan, one of Philippine sports’ biggest benefactors, made headlines back home following his decision to sever ties with the Jesuit-run Ateneo de Manila, an institution he has been supporting since the beginning of this century.

His decision was spurred by Ateneo’s position against mining of which he has a large stake. He also disagreed with the university’s stand on the Reproductive Health bill now pending in Congress.

“I read last night the Jesuit Paper… and have come to the conclusion that this document, as drafted, is irreconcilable with our corporate position on mining and, for me, more importantly, my conviction as a Filipino,” he said.

The billionaire sportsman owns and runs Philex Mining, one of the largest gold mines in the country. He also has controlling stakes in Meralco, Maynilad, Makati Medical Center and North Luzon Express (NLEX) Tollways, among others.

 

[nardy]

http://www.philstar.com/SportsArticle.aspx?articleId=851900&publicationSubCategoryId=69&keyword=


MVP wants out of intriguing issues
By Nelson Beltran (The Philippine Star) Updated September 23, 2012 12:00 AM

TOKYO – Businessman-sportsman Manny V. Pangilinan said he’s not inclined to run for public office, much more for the presidency in 2016, in reaction to clamor by those impressed by his stand in his latest rift with Ateneo de Manila University.

“I’m not built to be a politician,” said Pangilinan, now here in the Japanese capital cheering for Smart Gilas Pilipinas in the FIBA Asia Cup as president of the national cage federation.

“The moment ipakita mo mukha mo, babarilin ka na. Di naman ako si Jose Rizal,” added Pangilinan, in the news back home after withdrawing his support to his alma mater because of differences over mining and the Reproductive Health (RH) bill.

Pangilinan is the chairman of Philex Mining Corp. and the Philippine Long Distance Company (PLDT) Group, and also has controlling shares in Meralco, Maynilad, Makati Medical Center, Cardinal Santos Hospital and North Luzon Express (NLEX), among others.

In a letter addressed to Ateneo president Fr. Jett Villarin, Pangilinan said he decided to sever ties with the institution because the university’s position on mining runs contrary to the corporate position of Philex.

He also disagreed with the university’s stand on the Reproductive Health Bill now pending in Congress.

Is there anyway he’ll reconsider his stand? “Pagod na ako. Una yung plagiarism case, tapos the First Mining blow-up. Siguro tama na, strike three na tayo,” said Pangilinan, a major backer of the institution in various academic and sports programs.

He neither has plans of showing up even in the Ateneo games in the UAAP.

“I don’t think so. Tapos na,” said Pangilinan, the chief benefactor of the Ateneo Blue Eagles now in pursuit of a “Five-Peat.”

For his love of basketball, Pangilinan said he’s open to supporting another varsity team.

He didn’t indicate plans to relocate his businesses abroad as feared by some quarters after his name was dragged into the pciture in the Senate debates.

“Actually, the corporate headquarters of First Pacific is in Hong Kong. I still maintain office there and a flat. In fact tomorrow, balik ako Hong Kong for meetings this week,” he said.

“I am there once a month and stay a few days, kasi syempre may ibang negosyo kami sa Hong Kong,” he added.

House Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II has appealed to Pangilinan to stick it out in the country, as the business mogul has reportedly threatened to relocate his corporate offices and return to Hong Kong.

His businesses were earlier dragged into the quarrel between Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV.

“I am gravely concerned to hear of Mr. Pangilinan expressing his intention of reverting back his corporate operations to Hong Kong because of the recent spat in the Senate,” Gonzales has said.

In sports, Pangilinan, as SBP president, has declined offers to run under the ticket of re-electionist Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr. in the coming polls of the Philippine Olympic Committee.

“It’s a full-time job and I don’t have the time. I can help Philippine sport in a different capacity,” said Pangilinan

Asked whether he supports Cojuangco’s re-election bid, Pangilinan said: “We want to stay neutral.”

 

[nardy]

http://www.philstar.com/thedeanscorner/columnscontent.aspx?articleid=851943&publicationsubcategoryid=69

What was the basis for awarding bid?
SPORTING CHANCE By Joaquin Henson The Philippine Star Updated September 23, 2012 12:00 AM

TOKYO – Surely, it wouldn’t be asking too much of the FIBA Asia Executive Committee if secretary general Hagop Khajirian of Lebanon could explain the basis of awarding the hosting rights for next year’s FIBA Asia Championships to his home country, in the process rejecting the Philippine bid.

Philippine Ambassador to Japan Manolo Lopez suggested for the SBP to write Khajirian formally and request an explanation because the Filipino people deserve to know how the Lebanon bid could’ve been better. Did Lebanon offer superior facilities than the Philippines? Are Lebanese fans more passionate in their love of basketball than Filipinos? Is Lebanon a shoo-in for a Final Four finish so that fans are guaranteed to pack the stadium for the semifinals?

Unfortunately, the answers to the questions are a resounding no. At the 2010 FIBA Asia Champions Cup, Beirut was the host and the stadium was two hours away from the hotel where the players were billeted. Even the San Juan Arena is a more playable facility than the Ghazir Club Court, said a former Gilas player. So if the answers are no, what was the basis for awarding Lebanon the hosting rights?

The Philippines sent a high-powered panel to make a presentation of its bid before the ExCom. Surely, the panel deserves an explanation why the Philippine bid was denied. Khajirian said the deliberations were transparent so if FIBA Asia has nothing to hide, then it should come out in the open and explain how Lebanon won the bid. “The whole process of bidding as well as the decision on choosing the host was completely transparent,” said Khajirian. “The very fact that we had a methodical process of documentation and an even more impressive presentation to host the biggest FIBA Asia event reflects FIBA Asia’s credibility as an organization.”

It was Khajirian himself who told SBP executive director Sonny Barrios over a month ago that Lebanon would not be a serious bidder. Obviously, Khajirian took the Philippines for a ride.

A source said when it was apparent that the Philippine presentation was far superior to the Lebanese bid submitted by star player Fadi El Khatib, Khajirian flashed the ace up his sleeve. He supposedly reminded the ExCom that Lebanon should’ve hosted the 2011 edition but couldn’t be ready to do it, forfeiting the rights. China came to FIBA Asia’s rescue by agreeing to host the event in Wuhan. Two years before, China hosted in Tianjin. China has hosted four of the last six FIBA Asia Championships since 2001.

Did Khajirian mean that all along, Lebanon had preemptive rights to host the 2013 Championships? FIBA president Yvan Mainini of France spoke out in dismay during the meeting. Mainini and FIBA secretary general Patrick Baumann of Switzerland were guests from the Lausanne head office. While they had speaking rights, they couldn’t vote in the FIBA Asia ExCom. Mainini said if Lebanon was promised the 2013 rights, why did FIBA Asia encourage the Philippines to submit a bid.

FIBA Central Board member Xu Lan of China also attended the meeting as a guest and reportedly backed the Philippine bid. But because she couldn’t vote like Mainini and Baumann, what she voiced out didn’t make a dent. A source said after Mainini and Xu spoke, a division of the house was ruled – no doubt, to put an end to the debate before the FIBA guests could reverse the tide.

As Ambassador Lopez advised, the SBP could diplomatically request for the basis in the spirit of transparency so that next time, the NSA for basketball will know better in submitting a bid for some future event. FIBA Asia shouldn’t find anything wrong with that request. If FIBA Asia is transparent as it claims it is, then there should be no problem explaining the basis for rejecting the Philippine bid.

* * * *

Gilas coach Chot Reyes was slapped a technical foul by Lebanese referee Marwan Egho in the first quarter of the game against Iran in the FIBA Asia Cup semifinals at the Ota Gym here last Friday. While barking at Gabe Norwood, Reyes was surprised to be tagged and couldn’t believe it particularly as under FIBA rules, a technical foul results in two free throws and possession. Egho said Reyes overstepped the sideline and got on the court.

Throughout the contest, Egho had the hots for the Philippines. L. A. Tenorio said he was constantly badgered by Egho who kept reminding that he was under close scrutiny. When assistant coach Joseph Uichico got up to signal a timeout with Reyes on the bench, Egho waived him away, insisting it should be the head coach making the call. When Reyes tried to talk to Egho, the referee refused to listen. Iran certainly didn’t need a boost from Egho to get ahead. Or did it?

* * * *

Noted Filipino orthopaedic surgeon Dr. George Canlas was commissioned by FIBA Asia to supervise 16 doctors and eight nurses for the FIBA Asia Cup here. He was also the supervisor of the doping tests which were administered to one random player per team after a game starting the quarterfinals. For Gilas, Tenorio was tested in the game against Chinese-Taipei and Jay-R Reyes in the game against Iran. The results were negative.

Dr. Canlas said the drug tests were performed by a team of four Japanese doctors affiliated with the World Anti-Doping Agency. Another pool of doctors was used for the game-to-game monitoring. As head of the FIBA medical commission, Dr. Canlas sat through 88 games at the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

“I’m very impressed with the way Japan is so efficient in hosting an event like this,” said Dr. Canlas who flew in from Manila with wife Glenda and two of their three boys, Raffy and Dennis.

 

[nardy]

http://www.malaya.com.ph/index.php/sports/13373-romero-cites-need-for-change-in-sports-scene

Romero cites need for change in sports scene

Published on Wednesday, 19 September 2012 00:00
Written by BONG PEDRALVEZ

NOBODY has approached shooting president Mikee Romero for his vote in the Philippine Olympic Committee elections on Nov. 30. Even if someone does, Romero has no intention to give away his vote that easy.

“I’m an idealist so I consider my vote sacred that cannot just be given away. It is worth something to me,” Romero said yesterday during a break in the PSA Forum at Shakey’s Malate. “Siguro, kailangan muna nilang ligawan ako.

“Those interested in the position must show us a program that will chart the future direction of Philippine sports,” Romero added. “If no one can present us with a plan I would rather abstain from voting.

“It’s not the man but the plan,” he stressed.

Romero, who has been the Philippine National Shooting Association chief for the past two years, said there is “a need for change in Philippine sports landscape.”

While incumbent president Jose Cojuangco Jr. has announced he will seek a third straight term, nobody from the other side of the fence has stood up to challenge him. There is apparently an effort to convince businessman-sportsman Manny V. Pangilinan to challenge him but Cojuangco has preempted that move by offering the chairmanship to MVP.

Pangilinan has been the president of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas for the past four years, making him eligible to run for any post as stipulated by the POC charter.

Pangilinan also has ties and invested heavily in other sports such as badminton, taekwondo, cycling and weightlifting. It is expected officials of these National Sports Association would readily cast their lot with him if he decides to run for a POC post.

Last Monday, incumbent POC chairman and weightlifting head Monico Puentevella broke ranks with Cojuangco and endorsed Pangilinan’s candidacy for POC president in an open letter e-mailed to media entitled “MVP: Man of the Hour for Philippine Sports.”

In his letter, Puentevella even twitted POC spokesperson Joey Romasanta for proposing that he step down as POC chairman and yield the post to Pangilinan “in the best interest of Philippine sports,” saying it’s the POC general assembly, and not Romasanta, that should decide the issue.

Romasanta is being eyed by the Cojuangco group to run for first vice president, the post currently being held by Manny Lopez.

 

[nardy]

http://www.bleachersbrew.blogspot.com/2012/09/on-mvp-leaving-ateneo.html

Friday, September 21, 2012
On MVP leaving Ateneo
by rick olivares

In 1996, I was working for Avellana & Associates as a senior copywriter. I was wrapping up my stint there and was either headed for J. Walter Thompson or abroad (I chose the latter). There was talk then that we could lose the PLDT account that generated much of Avellana’s revenue. The company had been bought by the Hong Kong based First Pacific Company and rumors were rife that the telecomms company was moving to Saatchi. Nevertheless, I was still on board for a few more JOs (job orders) as we called them. The acquisition was to be made known through among many other things, a print ad.

And I was asked to do it. I was coming off a few vastly successful campaigns with a few ones winning advertising awards. But with PLDT, I was nervous. It was like working on Philippine Airlines before. Read: tough, stressful, and well, stressful.

Now I didn’t really know MVP. I heard of what he accomplished in Hong Kong and Indonesia but it was kind of vague. Our client then, the one I liaised with was Tony Samson, who nowadays aside from writing for Business World and ateneo.edu, is with DDB (the ad agency for Gatorade where I currently work -- Mindshare actually).

“A centerspread ad in the major dailies that celebrates the sale and how the five different companies under PLDT – PLDT, Smart, Piltel (now Talk ‘N Text), Infocom (the internet system that was being stabilized), and the Mabuhay Satellite – will work in greater concert to become the class of Asia,” I recall Mr. Samson saying about the creative brief.

The first thing that I normally do is to devour the brief and research as much information as I can so when I come up with a concept it looks informed and well thought out. What popped in my head was the five companies working like the starting five of a basketball team. I sketched a rough layout for a couple of ads and showed it to my art director. We prepared three concepts complete with compres and all (I still have all the designs including many of my thumbnail sketches for ads and storyboards as I also dabbled in illustration).

I was rooting not for the basketball concept but for something else. Now since client is king…. My art director and I came up with several designs. One was a clasp of hands during a huddle that was my favorite. Somehow we ended up with a layout I wasn’t wholly crazy about (there was another execution I favored). But it came out and that it is all that matters. Job done. Billings. Hopefully, client is happy.

I did leave in a few weeks moving into the client side and a marketing job (by then I had done advertising and public relations and marketing I believed would complete the trinity and make me a better person when it comes to work).

Never did I think I’d get to meet MVP until more than a decade later when I first began to write about the Ateneo Blue Eagles for the Ateneo website and later for Smart Gilas Pilipinas during the national team’s initial foray abroad. When I first learned of his being team patron in the early years of the new millennium, I thought back to the basketball-themed print ad of so many years ago. He loved hoops. No wonder he chose that concept.

One time, I found myself in MVP’s office interviewing him for a story for ateneo.edu. What was supposed to be a 30-minute interview went up to one hour. And what further struck me was he wasn’t late for the interview despite his busy schedule.

There was more for me to be impressed. I wrote him on two separate occasions and I was surprised that each time, he answered my email. Here’s a man who is so busy that I am sure that there are never enough hours in the day yet he took the time to answer a few questions and ideas I had percolating in my head. Wow. Of course, I like to think that the email was pertinent and not trivial.

One time while sitting idly around following a basketball game, I asked him, “Sir, how do you manage your time with all your companies and concerns?”

He smiled and said in a deliberate manner, “Very carefully. Very carefully.”

We both cracked up.

That says something about the man. He just doesn’t dive into things without doing due diligence.

Ironically today, I sat in the office of an Ateneo official talking about schools and their patrons and wondered if we were prepared for MVP leaving one day. When I got home and opened my new Samsung Galaxy Tab 2, I was shocked to read of his “complete and total disengagement from the Ateneo.”

Honestly, the first thing that popped into my head wasn’t the basketball program. Come on. There are more important things in life than basketball. As great as he is for the sports program, I think I value more how he helps school orgs and the facilities. Teaching in Ateneo today, I always tell myself that today’s kids never had it so good. Back in the day, we didn’t have much save for a beautiful campus.

I have known first hand of the problems that keep coming back like a bad itch. This was a long time coming what with differences and scars on various issues that have cropped up over the years. What I told myself upon hearing the news and reading the statement that Dennis Lucindo posted was, “This one is over.”

I understand both sides of the coin and am neither angry with anyone. It is what it is – differences. They happen. They just do.

There will be no doubt attempts to bridge this and to extend an olive branch to sort this out now or tomorrow. What comes of this I have no idea.

Nevertheless, I am not going to wait. I do want to take the opportunity to thank MVP for all that he’s done for Ateneo (he’s only pulling out of his alma mater and not the country). He has been mighty generous and we should be forever grateful.

While I am sad it has come to this, by nature, I grieve for a moment then move on. I guess living in an unforgiving New York climate does that to you. Unlike my crappy boss who looks for people to blame, I on the other hand am a solutions-oriented person. My Plan A has a Plan B and Plan C and D if possible.

This is what I have been saying, Ateneo. Do we have a Plan B or Plan C to MVP pulling out? Not just for this but also for many other things from us being on the fault line to the traffic that chokes Katipunan Avenue and the eyesore that is SM Blue (the matuwid na daan is nothing more than a clever PR line that at the end of the day is full of crap). Things happen and well, we have to be ready. Ready to move on and at once ready to bridge the gap.

I guess it’s like family. We quarrel. We get upset. Some times, the differences are more than a gap. They are a chasm or the great divide. I have my issues with family as well but at the end of the day, we’re family. We'll patch things up and well, we'll kick back and laugh at our travails and pitfalls.

So a heartfelt thank you from me for all you’ve done for our school. I like to think of the old tagline for PLDT – “Touching lives.” Yes, that is so.

If this is done as I fear it is (but hope not), I want to quote some lines from Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar” that says,

“Must end that work the ides of March begun.
And whether we shall meet again I know not.
Therefore our everlasting farewell take.
Forever and forever, farewell, Cassius!
If we do not meet again, why, we shall smile;
If not, why then, this parting was well made.”

One Big Fight, sir.

 

[nardy]

http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php/sports/38370-sbp-loses-to-lebanon-in-a-bid-to-host-asian-bash

SBP loses to Lebanon in a bid to host Asian bash

Published : Friday, September 21, 2012 00:00
Written by : People's Journal

It’s going to be in Lebanon, and not in Manila.

Lebanon was named the site of the 2013 Fiba-Asia Men’s Championship by the Fiba-Asia executive board, beating out the Philippines in a hotly-contested bidding war on Wednesday at the Grand Prince Takanawa Hotel in Tokyo, Japan.

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) executive director Sonny Barrios confirmed the news, but added the country could still host the event if Lebanon’s preparations for the biggest basketball tournament in the Asian region is left wanting in Fiba-Asia’s eyes.

“It’s Lebanon,” said Barrios in an SMS message to Gerry Ramos of Spin. PH from the Japanese capital, “but with a clause that it will be given to the Philippines if they can’t make it.”

Majority in the executive board reportedly voted in favor of Lebanon. One of its members, secretary-general Hagop Khajirian, is a Lebanese who personally visited the country last month to conduct an ocular inspection of the Mall of Asia Arena, which, according to Barrios, impressed the basketball official.

SBP president Manny V. Pangilinan led the group of Filipino cage officials — all in their shiny suits — who personally made the pitch for the country’s hosting of the Fiba-Asia Championship For Men next year.

SBP’s visual presentation included pictures of kids playing in sand lot courts and President Aquino honoring Smart Gilas after its victory in the Jones Cup in Taipei.

The SBP official made the presentation before the Fiba-Asia executive board, along with PBA commissioner Chito Salud, Barrios, and former Fiba-Asia secretary-general Moying Martelino.

After the Filipinos, the Lebanese made their case before the Fiba-Asia executive board, with the legendary player Fadi El-Khatib and teammate Ellie Stephan personally leading the campaign.

Two hours after the presentation, Pangilinan was told about the bad news just when the SBP and Smart Gilas-Pilipinas team were paying a courtesy call on Philippine Ambassador Manolo Lopez.

 

[nardy]

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/275058/sports/campussports/aside-from-mvp-other-key-figures-leaving-ateneo-basketball

Aside from MVP, other key figures leaving Ateneo basketball
RENEE AVENA FOPALAN, GMA News September 21, 2012 7:17pm

Will a dark age follow Ateneo's basketball renaissance?

With business tycoon Manuel V. Pangilinan abruptly and bitterly announcing his disengagement from the Ateneo de Manila University, Blue Eagles fans are pondering an uncertain future after the end of the team's five-peat campaign this season.

At the end of Season 75, Ateneo will lose three of its starters, as forward Nico Salva, center Greg Slaughter, guard Tonino Gonzaga exhaust their five-year eligibility. Prized reserves center Justin Chua and forward Oping Sumalinog are also graduating.

Coach Norman Black has also announced, albeit much more amicably, that it is his last year with the Ateneo, concluding one of the most successful coaching runs in Philippine college basketball history.

Losing Slaughter and Salva

The loss of Slaughter and Salva means that the Eagles will lose two of their top three scorers, as the duo combine for an average of 27.7 points per game. Sophomore Keifer Ravena tallies 14.9 an outing and is expected to anchor the team until he transitions to an almost certain professional career.

Slaughter and Salva are also the team's top two rebounders, combining for 14.8 boards a game.

All in all, the five graduating players contribute an average of 38.9 points and 22.3 rebounds a game for the blue and white.

This leaves Ateneo with JP Erram and rookie Giboy Babilonia at the center spot. Erram, too, will be playing his final year next season, while he sits out the rest of this year due to an ACL injury. Meanwhile, the Eagles will be left with Frank Golla and Kris Porter in the power forward spot, with Golla playing his final year next year.

The departure of Gonzaga and Sumalinog will most likely lead to Ryan Buenafe getting his starting spot back, provided that the 2010 UAAP Finals MVP stays another year. If not, it paves the way for former De La Salle - Zobel standout Gwyne Capacio to have a crack at the small forward position. Keifer Ravena will still have Von Pessumal as a backup in the shooting guard spot, while Juami Tiongson will have former Archers Nico Elorde and Isaac Lim to share pointguard chores with.

Coach Black will be ending an eight-year stint with the Eagles, as he takes over Chot Reyes' job with the Talk n' Text Tropang Texters, a Pangilinan-owned team.

It took Black four years to build an Ateneo championship team, a squad led by Cris Tiu which won the title in 2008. Teams under Black have since won three more, and this season's team is favored to capture Ateneo's fifth straight title, which would punctuate one of the most storied eras in college sports in the Philippines. - HS, GMA News

 

[nardy]

hi man, i'm not khalid80, but it's obvious, we have the right to host the AFC, but is our situation stable enough for this event ?
is our team ready ?
is there any chance to not be HUMILIATED again ?
I don't understand the federation, it says no money for foreign coach, and host a AFC !!!
isn't that contradictory ?

thx guys, babdelkader is saying sth true, if the federation is not able to hire a foreign coach and a to naturalized a good center, so how it's possible that they re going to host the Asia championship 2013 in lebanon , that's not logic .

To my fellow Pinoy Forumers, kindly refrain from crossing to other forums/threads in order to bash the Lebanese, they seem confused about the Hosting being awarded to them as we are.

For me there's something really not right, at the time Beirut won the rights to host the 2011 FIBA-Asia Championship, the Lebanese fans were really overjoyed about the matter but this time they are unusually silent. Been searching the web, there is no joyous announcement in Lebanese media about the matter. Could not even find an acknowledgement or announcement from the Lebanese Basketball Federation (FLB) about their country being awarded to be host of the Asian Championship. Or have anyone here had read an interview from Fadi El Khatib about the matter, this guy is so proud to play for the National Team of Lebanon that's just too odd he is silent about the matter, more so it was he who was credited for presenting in behalf of Lebanon. It just does not add-up. To borrow from MVP, it just does not make any sense.

 

[nardy]

http://sports.inquirer.net/63346/lebanese-stars-in-awe-of-jimmy-la

Lebanese stars in awe of Jimmy, LA
By Musong R. Castillo
Philippine Daily Inquirer
2:06 am | Saturday, September 22nd, 2012

TOKYO—Fadi El-Khatib and Elie Stephan, Lebanon’s present and future basketball stars, are talking highly of two Filipino point guards who they say defined—and will redefine—the position in the region.

“Jimmy Alapag is a great player, one of the greatest I’ve seen,” said El-Khatib, the 32-year-old scoring legend, Thursday night. “Even if he’s so small, he can take over a game. He’s so smart, I haven’t seen anyone like him.”

El-Khatib said that, about four years ago, he even considered talking to Alapag to bring the one-time PBA MVP to the Lebanese pro league to play as an import.

“Yes, he’s been talking about him a lot,” Stephan butted in. “Jimmy Alapag can do this, Jimmy Alapag can do that. Is he really that good? I know one who’s very good, your guard (LA) Tenorio.”

Tenorio was the MVP in the Jones Cup, a tournament Smart Gilas-Pilipinas ruled in Taipei last month. The Filipinos lost to just one team there, Lebanon.


http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fc/news/lateNews/arti.asp?newsid=53850

18/09/2012
LIB - Fadi’s still got it!

Lebanon vs France. Day 2 of the
2010 FIBA World Championship in
Izmyr, Turkey. 29 August 2010.
Preliminary round

LIB - Fadi’s still got it!

TOKYO (FIBA Asia Championship/FIBA Basketball World Cup) - Lebanon's Fadi El Khatib has provided international basketball with many a fine moment over the years.

The 33-year-old could stop playing the game now and look back on a career that has seen him play at three FIBA World Championships.

Just imagine, El Khatib has been a part of three major events when international basketball has truly blossomed into a global game.

In 2002, the only year a United States team of NBA players has failed to reach the podium at a major event, Lebanon lost all their games yet the 1.98m forward El Khatib raised eyebrows by averaging 17.6 points and 6.2 rebounds.

He had 28 in one memorable performance against Turkey.

At the 2006 FIBA World Championship in Japan, El Khatib averaged 18.8 points per contest.

In arguably his greatest effort in a Lebanon shirt, El Khatib scored 29 points on 10 of 18 shooting from the floor and nine of 10 at the line in a 74-73 upset of France.

Then in 2010, El Khatib and Lebanon travelled to Turkey where they came up short in all five of their games despite El Khatib averaging 15.4 points.

Despite being on the wrong side of 30, El Khatib is showing at the FIBA Asia Cup that he has some fuel in the tank.

The veteran has been a driving force for Lebanon as they have won three of their four games in Group A.

In his latest outing on Tuesday, El Khatib erupted for 37 points and corralled 11 rebounds in an 84-49 blowout of Uzbekistan.

If he keeps on pouring in the points at next year's FIBA Asia Championship, don't be surprised if Lebanon take up one of the places at the 24-team FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain.

FIBA

 

[ariel_muhlach]

as long as he doesn't do an "i-won't-lend-my-players-because-i-am-on-the-other-side-of-the-fence-now" mentality just like what the disgraced eala bitchingly did, an MVP-stepping-down move can be a blessing in disguise, i think. in this case, someone from the RSA group takes over, thus, paving the entry of SMC players to the pool. with an always generous and supportive MVP at the backseat, we can actually have what we're wishing for: unity in philippine basketball. BUT THIS IS JUST A "WHAT-IF" SCENARIO. watchatink guys?

For arguments sake, if indeed MVP steps down but the war with RSA is indeed that deep, now its MVP is to say now you do it but without my players including douthit and slaughter.

What now? Could a SMC flavored National Team do it better? Now you get back not only the foreign coach in Rajko Toroman but also Noli Eala.

Mark Caguioa
James Yap
Marcio Lassiter
Jay Washington
JuneMar Fajardo
Asi Taulava
Marc Pingris
Arwind Santos
Chris Lutz
Chris Banchero
Rayray Parks
Alex Cabagnot

Naturalized Player candidate: Denzel Bowles

Assistant Coaches:
Tim Cone
Olsen Racela
Siot Tianquincen
Alfrancis Chua
Bobby Parks

 

[reamily]

This is on condition that Noli Eala will make true to his word that SMC will lend its players:

ranidel de ocampo
gabe norwood
marcus douthit
james yap
jason castro

junemar fajardo
marcio lassiter
greg slaughter
mark caguioa
jared dillinger

marc pingris
japeth aguilar

won't cut it no real 12th man..

 

[swish#20]

You know what guys, at first glance MVP parting ways with Ateneo seemed like bad news, but if really think about it, its what we fans wanted all along. We been criticizing him for prioritizing the university squad over the Gilas team but now, there would be no more conflict of interest. Man i wish we have 10 more guys like him... Thank you MVP, salamat sa suporta sa NT.

 

[thatweirdguy]

For arguments sake, if indeed MVP steps down but the war with RSA is indeed that deep, now its MVP is to say now you do it but without my players including douthit and slaughter.

What now? Could a SMC flavored National Team do it better? Now you get back not only the foreign coach in Rajko Toroman but also Noli Eala.

Mark Caguioa
James Yap
Marcio Lassiter
Jay Washington
JuneMar Fajardo
Asi Taulava
Marc Pingris
Arwind Santos
Chris Lutz
Chris Banchero
Rayray Parks
Alex Cabagnot

Naturalized Player candidate: Denzel Bowles

Assistant Coaches:
Tim Cone
Olsen Racela
Siot Tianquincen
Alfrancis Chua
Bobby Parks

Hays I'm getting the feeling that MVP's getting frustrated. Him leaving would definitely be a big blow to our NT.

Petron Blaze Pipilinas? hehe. Not bad but I don't think this lineup is going to cut it. They can't even reach the playoffs in the PBA. It's like sending a better prepared Powerade team. Puro big names lang with no chemistry.

 

[reamily]

In any competitive level.. It is very difficult to name any final lineup for a national team.. as it has so many criterias..It is not correct to name the twelve best players available or twelve best players for the team. There will never be a perfect selection. just like what happen to taiwan..

 

[Phlegm Thrower]

If SBP is still led by MVP

C Marcus Douthit
C Greg Slaughter
C/F Junmar Fajardo
F Ranidel De Ocampo
F Kelly Williams
F Gabe Norwood
G Jared Dillinger
G Gary David
G Jeff Chan
G Larry Fonacier
G Jason Castro
G LA Tenorio

Coach: Chot Reyes


If MVP Stepped down and let RSA handle SPB

C Marcus Douthit
C Junmar Fajardo
F Japeth Aguilar – Toroman’s Faborite hehe
F Anthony Washington
F Marc Pingris
F Arwind Santos
G Ray Parks
G Chris Lutz
G Marcio Lassiter
G James Yap
G Alex Cabagnot
G LA Tenorio

Coach: Toroman

I don’t post starting 5 second 5 and 2 reserves because I believe that the 12 man roster can start anyone depending on the match ups.

 

[darkwind]

For me there's something really not right, at the time Beirut won the rights to host the 2011 FIBA-Asia Championship, the Lebanese fans were really overjoyed about the matter but this time they are unusually silent. Been searching the web, there is no joyous announcement in Lebanese media about the matter. Could not even find an acknowledgement or announcement from the Lebanese Basketball Federation (FLB) about their country being awarded to be host of the Asian Championship. Or have anyone here had read an interview from Fadi El Khatib about the matter, this guy is so proud to play for the National Team of Lebanon that's just too odd he is silent about the matter, more so it was he who was credited for presenting in behalf of Lebanon. It just does not add-up. To borrow from MVP, it just does not make any sense.

Here's one:
http://www.pba-online.net/basketbal...banon-to-host-2013-Asian-Championships/15063/

 

[toikins]

Ateneo losing norman black and sponsor in MVP. Will it affect Ravena's development? we'll see in the future some "what if" statements.

 

[LCM]

If MVP will support another Varsity Team, I think it will be FEU.

 

[ricodgame]

I hope he supports UP.

If MVP will support another Varsity Team, I think it will be FEU.

 

[RedMetal]

I still believe RSA side will lend players if requested by Coach Chot for next years tournament.

C Marcus Douthit
C/F Junmar Fajardo
F Mark Pingris
F Ranidel De Ocampo
F Kelly Williams
F Gabe Norwood
G Jared Dillinger
G Gary David
G Jeff Chan / Marcio Lassiter
G Larry Fonacier
G Jason Castro
G LA Tenorio / Alex Cabagnot