2012 London Olympics

[DelijaZauvjek]

Teodosic MVP in finals against USA

[Raze Lupin]

if you notice that they will take down the newly-built stat of the art basketball arena that the Brits construct for teh olympics, after the games. I would say that none are really fans, but are going to the games just for the novelty of it.

On the one hand I'm happy to see basketball's still one of the top draws. On the other I wonder how many people that got tickets are actual fans as opposed to tickets reserved for sponsors.

We Americans travel well for the olympics. The soccer world cup last summer had well over 100,000 airline tickets purchased from the USA to South Africa. My uncle was able to secure tickets for 2012 Olympic games. Still I'm with you guys many true basketball fans will not be able to see this tourney because the novelty fans ate up all the tickets. I'm glad basketball is such a big draw. I'm pissed that EU member countries got a bit of an edge on ticket availability. I'll be there but there is no garauntee I will get to see team USA play. I think the ticket situation was poorly handled.

[CKR13]

FIBA's The Road to London Site

Check it out.

[Dtown]

Well done site with a nice layout, really like how simple they explain who qualifies.

[Jeffie]

I hope more teams would be invited out of Asia.. Historically, it is dominated by China.. I think people want to see more opportunities given to other countries, and I hope the additional 4 teams would mean good news for Asia hopefuls who can't get past China.

Playing in the 2012 Olympics should be the Philippine team's main goal, if this is not already their main goal! Playing against a USA team donned by NBA Players would be a life-changing experience for whoever plays and works for that Philippine team - and may change the perspective of the National team after the Olympic experience to hopefully come back stronger, and perform better in at least the Asian Games.

[Alvertis4]

I got tickets for the Olympics but forgot to put money in my credit card account They didn't tell me what tickets they were before my payment was done so not sure if I'd get any basketball tickets (I had applied for 3 games on 1 particular day, 1 qf and 1 sf)

[Ciscorlie Horford]

I hope more teams would be invited out of Asia.. Historically, it is dominated by China.. I think people want to see more opportunities given to other countries, and I hope the additional 4 teams would mean good news for Asia hopefuls who can't get past China.

Playing in the 2012 Olympics should be the Philippine team's main goal, if this is not already their main goal! Playing against a USA team donned by NBA Players would be a life-changing experience for whoever plays and works for that Philippine team - and may change the perspective of the National team after the Olympic experience to hopefully come back stronger, and perform better in at least the Asian Games.

that's what the qualifier is for. You can not just give away free spot to other team just because. if you want more Asian teams in the Olympics then I suppose those Asian teams that could not qualify through the FIBA Asia championship, need to do a better job on the Olympic Qualifier.


but I think that any team that can not beat China can't be on The Olympics. This is not the World Championship. This is for the best of the best including more teams would just cheapen this event.

[Jeffie]

that's what the qualifier is for. You can not just give away free spot to other team just because. if you want more Asian teams in the Olympics then I suppose those Asian teams that could not qualify through the FIBA Asia championship, need to do a better job on the Olympic Qualifier.


but I think that any team that can not beat China can't be on The Olympics. This is not the World Championship. This is for the best of the best including more teams would just cheapen this event.

Ok, when I said "invited", I didn't mean to give it away, my fault and should've been clearer.. I meant, to invite Asia to more spots than the usual 1-2.. There were 4 more spots for 2012, so I was hoping more spots will be granted for Asia to qualify for.

[Dtown]

Ok, when I said "invited", I didn't mean to give it away, my fault and should've been clearer.. I meant, to invite Asia to more spots than the usual 1-2.. There were 4 more spots for 2012, so I was hoping more spots will be granted for Asia to qualify for.

FIBA wanted four more spots for the Olympics but the IOC shot them down. So there are still only 12 teams that will be competing. Only way in from Asia is win Gold or make it through the additional qualifying tournament.

[cardenales]

Jeffie, I have a question for you

Do you know if Marcus Eugene Douhit and Greg Slaughter are going to be with RP in the Asian qualifiy to London?

The Philipines need this two guys bad, need the height, to compete in this tournament, plus you already have Japeth Aguilar and Jason Ballesteros, will help, but need more height for the team.

[cardenales]

By the way, Jeffie, are there other phillipines players over 6"7" that the four I mention before that could make the national team for the Asians?

[Jeffie]

Jeffie, I have a question for you

Do you know if Marcus Eugene Douhit and Greg Slaughter are going to be with RP in the Asian qualifiy to London?

The Philipines need this two guys bad, need the height, to compete in this tournament, plus you already have Japeth Aguilar and Jason Ballesteros, will help, but need more height for the team.

Hi bro -

Marcus Douthit is a naturalized Filipino that we need badly in the National Team. He cannot play for commercial teams in the local pro league (PBA) due to him being naturalized instead of having trace of a Filipino blood, and the PBA only accepts imports with 6'6" height and below (stupidest thing I've ever heard).

Greg Slaughter will play for a college team in the Philippine version of the NCAA (called U.A.A.P. - Universities Athletic Association of the Philippines), but will play for the National Team after the tournament.

By the way, Jeffie, are there other phillipines players over 6"7" that the four I mention before that could make the national team for the Asians?

We have a lot of guys taller than 6'7", which can immediately help the National Team (The first one I want in the National Team would be Mark Pingris, a great double-double guy for his average 6'6"-6'7" height, look him up)..



but we can no longer go down the road of forming a National Team with a core group of guys from the PBA a few months or 1 year before the tournament the NT will participate it.. That was how we handled all Asian Games & FIBA Asia Qualifying tournaments, and it used to work (Silver Medalist in 1990 Asian Games) until 1994, when the Philippines finished 4th Place against Japan. That was the start of the downfall.

The current National Team called Smart-Gilas is comprised of college players, naturalized or Fil-foreign recruits and the greatest player to NEVER PLAY for a commercial team in the PBA, Chris Tiu (look him up as well), who is so intelligent (academic scholar in college) he opted to run a business instead of making basketball a living - and only plays basketball for Flag and Country.



Sometimes, depending on the tournament, Smart-Gilas is reinforced by PBA players (Asi Taulava, Kelly Williams) that are loaned to the Philippine Team pending approval by their commercial ballclubs (I can't believe you first have to approve loaning a player to a National Team - I thought it was a no-brainer), but they are not the spectacular players they once were - and they were spectacular against mostly Filipino competition.

[Jeffie]

In his prime, though, Asi Taulava would've made it extremely hard for other teams.. He's a 6'9"/6'10" PF/C who is widely-considered as the big man whose play was the most well-suited for Filipinos to succeed in International Competition - not some 6'5" Center or 6'3" Power Forward in the 90's (Ugh! Height, height, height!)



Right now, he's still playing for Smart-Gilas, but no longer the "Main Attraction" in our National Team.. He can still play solid interior defense and clear the boards, but is a few steps slower.

Here's a video of him scoring against Yao Ming in international play: http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sourc...pz-baRouX9BK_w

[cardenales]

I know about Asi Taulava, he is a very big guy with good move on the post but old. He is almost 40!!!!! and still in the national team. RP needs new blood desperate.

Still, finally, did not answer my question, does the two 6"11" can play for RP in this Asia tournament 2011?

Mike Pingris, need to be in the national team. I mean, height is needed badly for todays basketball.

Good Luck, in this years Asians.

[Jeffie]

I know about Asi Taulava, he is a very big guy with good move on the post but old. He is almost 40!!!!! and still in the national team. RP needs new blood desperate.

Still, finally, did not answer my question, does the two 6"11" can play for RP in this Asia tournament 2011?

Mike Pingris, need to be in the national team. I mean, height is needed badly for todays basketball.

Good Luck, in this years Asians.

Marcus Douthit will definitely play.. Greg Slaughter is questionable, since he will play for his collegiate team in the 2011 UAAP Men's Basketball tournament. I don't think he can make it in time, but he will definitely play AFTER the UAAP tournament.