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EXPECT
changes on the national men’s basketball team after it
lost to Hapee Toothpaste over the weekend in the
Philippine Basketball League (PBL) V-Go Extreme Energy
Drink tournament.
Head
coach Junel Baculi said the changes were agreed upon
during his meeting with Harbour Centre team owner and
the nationals’ sponsor Mikee Romero Sunday night.
 “We
just evaluated the players and discussed the immediate
plans because we have only a month left before the SEA
[Southeast Asian] Games,” said Baculi, whose Nationals
have absorbed two losses in the PBL.
“After
our loss against Hapee, I told them that they [players]
are not giving me ample shield to protect their spots on
the team,” Baculi added.
The
temperamental mentor hinted San Beda College’s Ogie
Menor, Filipino-American Gabe Norwood, who has yet to
try out for the team, and University of the East’s Elmer
Espiritu are being considered for the team.
“But we
have to ask for these players [if they want to join the
team] first,” said Baculi.
Another
Filipino-American, Solomon Mercado, has also earned the
attention of the coaching staff. The six-foot-one
Mercado, who played college ball at Biola University in
the United States, is currently playing for Batang Pier.
Baculi
said Philippine Basketball Association team Air21 has
offered its players. But he turned the team down because
of time constraints. He also said there are certain
formalities in the PBA which have to be met before pros
are allowed to play on another team.
“Of
course, malaking tulong nga iyon because of the
experience of these professional players. Pero
mahirap umasa,” he noted.
Baculi
admitted he is disappointed with the team’s performance,
particularly on the players’ mental approach on the
game.
“If I
will rate the team, before nasa third- or
fourth-year college na kami, pero bumalik sa
Grade 7,” Baculi said. “We have not yet attained the
level of play we wanted from our guards, wingmen and big
men. That’s what we’re addressing right now.”
Baculi
said no one from among the team members is guaranteed of
his slot. He said they are bringing along a 15-man team
to Thailand and they will only decide who the final 12
will be during the managers’ meeting in the SEA Games.
The
Nationals will play two more games in the PBL before
engaging their counterparts from Singapore and a number
of commercial ball clubs in tune-up matches starting
Saturday. |
