A COUPLE of hot-shooting brothers are at the forefront of the Filipinos’ first assignment in the Fiba-Asia Olympic qualifiers tomorrow in Tokushima, Japan.

San Miguel Corp.-Team Pilipinas tries to smash the first sickle in what many have called “the group of death” when it meets Iran at 5 p.m. Manila time.

The Bahrami brothers, Aidin and Samad, are expected to lead the youthful Iranian team whose average age is 23.

Samad, the younger brother who plays forward, can provide instant offense for Iran. He scored 22 points in Iran’s 89-79 loss to the Philippines in the Jones Cup recently. He finished with 17 points to lead Iran to a 101-88 victory over the Philippines in the import-laden Fiba-Asia Champions Cup held last May.

Going by the team’s record and pronouncements made by RP coach Chot Reyes, Iran could be the easiest assignment for his team in the group stages.

In the Jones Cup victory, Reyes lauded the Filipinos’ efforts. He said after the win:

“Going into this game, I told my boys to think that we are already in Japan and this is a game that would push us into the quarterfinals of the Fiba-Asia tournament. They responded and I’m happy for that.”

Based on the lineup posted on the web site of the Fiba-Asia qualifiers, nine of those players saw action in the Asian Games last December. There, the Iranians defeated Jordan to secure the bronze medal.

The Philippines is grouped with three countries which were semifinalists in the Asian Games. Besides Iran, the Filipinos take on Asiad champion China on Sunday then Jordan Monday. All games start at 6 p.m., Tokushima time.

SMC-Team Pilipinas flew to Tokushima Wednesday afternoon.

Asi Taulava, Jimmy Alapag and Renren Ritualo of Talk ’N Text; Tony de la Cruz of Alaska; Mark Caguioa, Jayjay Helterbrand and Eric Menk of Barangay Ginebra; Dondon Hontiveros and Danny Seigle of San Miguel Beer; Ranidel de Ocampo of Air21; Kerby Raymundo and James Yap of Purefoods; Kelly Williams of Sta. Lucia Realty; Mick Pennisi of Red Bull; and Gabe Norwood of George Mason U were all in that flight. The final 12 is known today after the team managers’ meeting.

According to wikipedia.org, the Philippines hasn’t placed higher than ninth in the Fiba-Asia championships since 1993. Fiba suspensions forced the Philippines out of Fiba zonals in 2001 and ’03. The last time the country won the championship in the zonals once known as the Asian Basketball Confederation was in 1985.

This Philippine team, embarking on a mission with the Olympics on mind, is one of the most closely watched basketball teams since professionals were allowed by the Fiba to play in its tournaments.

“We’ve done everything humanely possible to prepare for Japan,” Reyes said. “It now boils down to execution, desire and pride. And prayers from the Filipino nation.”

Philippine Basketball Association commissioner Noli Eala recalled the sacrifices the national team undertook from Day One.

“For nearly 147 days, the PBA-backed SMC-Pilipinas national team labored and sacrificed for one solitary chance of a lifetime in search of our Olympic dream,” Eala said.

“Today, with our collective sweat and hard work as our capital, and our faith in the Almighty as our guide, we embark on a mission undaunted by the enormity of the task ahead,” he added.

“This is a quest to bring honor, pride and respect to 82 million basketball-loving Pinoys. With each game, we carry their dreams and their hopes, and we ask the whole nation to pray for our team.”

PBA chairman Ricky Vargas also urged the Nationals to give their all.

“It is not committing to do your best that is hard, you have already done that,” Vargas said. “It is living up to that commitment that is difficult. So live it up to the fullest by achieving the task ahead of you.

“We are proud of what you have become as a team. The impossible is possible.”

SMC-RP team manager Robert Non said the tournament about “redemption and respect.”

“This is it, the culmination of our sacrifices and hard work for the past two year,” Non said. “Now it is time for us to pray and support the SMC-Pilipinas team as our national players carry our dreams of redemption in international basketball.”

It Starts Here

A COUPLE of hot-shooting brothers are at the forefront of the Filipinos’ first assignment in the Fiba-Asia Olympic qualifiers tomorrow in Tokushima, Japan.

Webb, Adornado and Mariano recall the Munich spirit of ’72

Thirty-five years ago in September 1972, Filipino cagers appeared—absurd as it sounds in recent times—in their seventh Olympics, Philippine basketball’s last up-close look of the Five Rings.

Jimmy Alapag: One of the fastest, if not already the quickest guards, who will appear in the Tokushima tournament; has a knack for hitting the big shots… from beyond the arc; not afraid of contact and willing to take on opposing big men on drives.

IN talking with some of the country’s basketball connoisseurs, nearly all of them feel bright and breezy about our chances in the coming FIBA-Asia tournament in Tokushima, Japan.

Rafael Hechanova is not familiar with the current makeup of the national team that will vie for an Olympic berth in Tokushima but the former Olympian is hoping that the players compete intensely on the international level.

ATENEO finally got La Salle’s number, and the Blue Eagles dealt the Green Archers a stretch they wouldn’t want to remember.

EIGHT tough and tested fillies will be contesting the P1.27-million 2007 Lakambini Stakes on August 5 at the San Lazaro Leisure Park.