Plotting the Sea Games

Whatever coach Tim Cone says will be fine with the PBA

The composition of the national team that will see action in the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games will be known today as the Philippine Basketball Association and the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) convene in a crucial meeting at the PBA office in Libis, Quezon City.

No less than newly appointed Gilas head coach Tim Cone will be present during the meeting as the SBP has until Monday to submit the entries by name to the Philippine Southeast Asian Games.

PBA commissioner Willie Marcial said the league is willing to lend all its players to the national team but the decision still depends on Cone.

“Whatever coach Tim Cone says will be fine with the PBA. If he says, all pro, fine. If he says a mixture of pro and amateur players, it’s fine also with us,” Marcial told Daily Tribune yesterday.

“As what we always say, the PBA is very supportive to the programs of the SBP and we’ll all know the details tomorrow,” he added.

Tipped to attend the meeting are ranking cage officials, including SBP president Al Panlilio, executive director Sonny Barrios and PBA chairman Ricky Vargas.

They are expected to discuss the Gilas Pilipinas program with the SEA Games participation at the top of the SBP agenda.

Last week, Panlilio named University Athletic Association of the Philippines stars Kobe Paras, Ricci Rivero, Isaac Go, Justine Baltazar, Thirdy Ravena, Juan Gomez de Liano and Dave Ildefonso as the amateurs included in the 24-man pool.

He also mentioned PBA players Christian Standhardinger and Stanley Pringle as well as rising star Kai Sotto, who is currently in the United States in preparation for his entry to the National Basketball Association.

Although Marcial hinted that it could be an all-professional team that has the likes of veterans June Mar Fajardo, Gabe Norwood, Beau Belga, Matthew Wright and Kiefer Ravena, he stressed that nothing is cast in stone and it will all depend on the wishes of the prolific American mentor.

After all, the SEA Games will definitely not be a walk in the park as teams like Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia had all beefed up due to their exposure in the regional Asean Basketball League.

Reports have it that the Indonesians will parade former PBA import Denzel Bowles as naturalized player with former Gilas Pilipinas mentor Rajko Toroman as head coach.

The Philippines has yet to surrender the gold medal in the biennial meet since losing to Malaysia in 1979 and 1989.