2002 RP National Team vs. Ukraine and Italy

[PaulLee3]

[PaulLee3]

Back when we had a long preparations

[Rodbi]

Long preparation indeed, but their play against Italy was such an absolute eyesore. Italians made basketball look so easy in this exhibition match and since then, we always had our asses kicked by the Azurris, I mean no losses below 30 pts.

[carmelo7]

They tried Penissi and Asi at the same time against Italy or Ukraine i think but never used it against China etc

[BJ_Reloaded]

Correct me if I'm wrong on this..

I think this is also the time that Sonny Alvarado practices with the team and was already provided the BI and DOJ recognition for the purpose of allowing him to play for the RP team that time so that we could be competitive not only here in Asia but also beyond the boundaries of it. But we already know back then the sensitivity of the Fil-Sham issue and lot of people during that time are very touchy about it.

Now what if they allowed the dude to play in the RP team that time despite the obvious considering he already had those documents for the sake that he is willing to represent the country. A Menk-Alvarado-Hatfield combination is a deadly one, a solid work rate..Just look at Asi despite also the obvious reason he is willing to represent us..what if people's mindset back then are more aware about naturalization and residency not being too much touchy and just being aware that basketball is a global thing...hmmm...

[carmelo7]

Alvarado was already ousted during these days I think, he didnt even make it on the Selecta and Happee Teams as well as Chris Clay and Jeffrey Flowers, I remember we could've use Davonn Harp but he begged off.

[hmbopbaduwap]

Alvarado was already ousted during these days I think, he didnt even make it on the Selecta and Happee Teams as well as Chris Clay and Jeffrey Flowers, I remember we could've use Davonn Harp but he begged off.

Yes, Harp had to begged off because of a rape case filed against him

[magic_chiongson]

did slava medvedenko & vitaly potapenko play for ukraine?

[Rodbi]

did slava medvedenko & vitaly potapenko play for ukraine?

I don't think they did. RP team barely won that game. I remember that the game was almost out of reach for Ukraine until one of their players pulled a Caidic on us in the end game, hence the very close scoreline.

[JAMSKIE]

This tournament, which served as part of the RP=Selecta team's preparation for the 2002 Asian Games, showed who among the players that will make the biggest difference in the team's campaign in the Asian Games, & they were Danny Seigle & Asi Taulava. Too bad Seigle got injured in a tune up game just prior to the tournament.

I remember the consensus back then included Danny Ildefonso as among the biggest difference maker. Perhaps people put too much weight on Ildefonso being a 2-time PBA MVP at that time. But But prior to the 2002 Asian Games, I really doubt Ildefonso's capability to carryover his PBA game to the international level. It was Seigle & Taulava's game I was confident of being able to come out in the international level.

Taulava had the size & the agility at center while Danny Seigle being a 6-foot-6 natural small forward with shooting, ball handling & athleticism, would have easily outplayed most small forwards in Asia if only he didn't get injured.

I say Danny Ildefonso was just another big man out there in Asian basketball.

[Rodbi]

This tournament, which served as part of the RP=Selecta team's preparation for the 2002 Asian Games, showed who among the players that will make the biggest difference in the team's campaign in the Asian Games, & they were Danny Seigle & Asi Taulava. Too bad Seigle got injured in a tune up game just prior to the tournament.

I remember the consensus back then included Danny Ildefonso as among the biggest difference maker. Perhaps people put too much weight on Ildefonso being a 2-time PBA MVP at that time. But But prior to the 2002 Asian Games, I really doubt Ildefonso's capability to carryover his PBA game to the international level. It was Seigle & Taulava's game I was confident of being able to come out in the international level.

Taulava had the size & the agility at center while Danny Seigle being a 6-foot-6 natural small forward with shooting, ball handling & athleticism, would have easily outplayed most small forwards in Asia if only he didn't get injured.

I say Danny Ildefonso was just another big man out there in Asian basketball.

I remember Erik Menk was also an above-average performer for RP during those years.

Danny I was just too undersized for a 5 at the Asian level, standing next to those 7-footers of China. I believe though that his game can translate to modern basketball, owing to his strength and athleticism.

[BJ_Reloaded]

Time simply flies faster nowadays, if only basketball stakeholders and fans like us are very much aware of that basketball heritage and residency that we are currently discussing maybe just maybe we could give some fits outside Asia during that time.

[CoJ]

so basically, Danny I was there as a PR move by virtue of being a back to back mvp, though one of those mvp awards should have been won by Danny S imho.

personally i think Espino was a better fit and contributor for the nteam than danny I

[JOI2dWorld]

This tournament, which served as part of the RP=Selecta team's preparation for the 2002 Asian Games, showed who among the players that will make the biggest difference in the team's campaign in the Asian Games, & they were Danny Seigle & Asi Taulava. Too bad Seigle got injured in a tune up game just prior to the tournament.

I remember the consensus back then included Danny Ildefonso as among the biggest difference maker. Perhaps people put too much weight on Ildefonso being a 2-time PBA MVP at that time. But But prior to the 2002 Asian Games, I really doubt Ildefonso's capability to carryover his PBA game to the international level. It was Seigle & Taulava's game I was confident of being able to come out in the international level.

Taulava had the size & the agility at center while Danny Seigle being a 6-foot-6 natural small forward with shooting, ball handling & athleticism, would have easily outplayed most small forwards in Asia if only he didn't get injured.

I say Danny Ildefonso was just another big man out there in Asian basketball.

Danny Seigle the biggers what if in national team's history, always been hidden as secret weapon but always get injured before the actual tournament, i think that time nobody in asia can stop him

[JAMSKIE]

so basically, Danny I was there as a PR move by virtue of being a back to back mvp, though one of those mvp awards should have been won by Danny S imho.

personally i think Espino was a better fit and contributor for the nteam than danny I

Not really. Danny Ildefonso was among the top big men in the PBA during that time. He was actually a natural center but since he had perimeter shooting & had decent agility, he could play the 4 spot easily.

The only issue I think at that time was that people had somewhat unrealistic expectation on Danny I. Since Danny I was a 2-time PBA MVP, people expected him to be among the top 3 performers of the national team. You know the mentality of some pinoy basketball fans, pag magaling sa PBA eh magaling din yan sa international competition.The thing is, 6-foot-6 & above players of China, Korea, Japan, Kazakhstan, etc. are tougher, more physical & more skilled that the 6-5/6-6 players that Ildefonso was facing in the PBA. I saw Ildefonso not able to withstand to physicality of Japanese bigs in the competition.

Danny Seigle on the other hand may not have won any PBA MVP, yet had the physical attributes & the skills of a quality small forward in Asian basketball.

Judging from how Seigle played in this pocket tournament in Italy in 2002, I was confident Seigle would be able to exhibit same performance or even better in the Asian Games, if only he had not been injured.