WHILE focus is on the Powerade-Team Pilipinas’ performances in various events in the coming months, two pairs of eyes will be keenly watching action elsewhere starting in a few days.

Coaches Gee Abanilla and Kenneth Duremdes, the lieutenants of head coach Yeng Guiao, will start the research, scouting and mapping of plans against the Korean and Japanese teams in the next few days, way ahead of the all-pro Philippine squad’s scheduled participation in other international tournaments.

The Nationals have been placed in the so-called Group of Hope against Japan, Korea and Sri Lanka for the International Basketball Federation (Fiba)-Asia Men’s Championship in Tianjin, China.

The result of the draw was sort of a relief after the Philippines wound up in the dreaded “Group of Death” with China, eventual champion Iran and Jordan in 2007.

Hopes are high this time around, with observers believing the country has a better chance of qualifying for the 2010 Fiba World Championship in Turkey, but a tough job of observing and analyzing the rivals lies ahead and work is set to start early.

“We will look where Japan and Korea are playing even before or after the Jones Cup,” said Guiao, whose wards will see action in next month’s William R. Jones Cup in Taiwan where the Philippines’ Fiba-Asia “groupmates” are also entered.

The team staff is also mulling plans for the Jones Cup participation—whether to go all out or play conservative to keep the rivals guessing.

“Now, the question is, are we going to Jones Cup to win or just win as many games we can? Or maybe not show them what the whole team is all about? We’ll device a strategy for this,” he added.

“Uso kasi sa international tournament ang magtaguan [ng laro],” Guiao said. “We could be scouting them there but they could be scouting us also.”

In the 2007 Fiba-Asia tournament in Tokushima, Japan, the RP quintet had a tough stint right from the start and ended up in ninth place.

The tournament will also provide Guiao the chance to select the final 12 players for the Fiba-Asia tournament.

“We can use 15 players in the Jones Cup so it will help the coaching staff select the final 12,” he said. “I hope those guys we’ll be healthy.”

Japeth Aguilar, the 15th player in the pool, will arrive on June 26 to join the Nationals’ scrimmages while Kelly Williams is still doubtful for the Taiwan joust because of a rare blood problem.

One more slot, please

SAMAHANG Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) executive director Noli Eala said on Thursday the country’s request for one more slot in the London Olympics has drawn the support of other Asian countries.

Besides getting a favorable result of the draw in Tianjin, the country’s proposal to the sport’s governing body to add one more Asian representative to the 2012 Games had the backing of the officials in the region.

“I met with representatives of Korea, Qatar and Jordan and they will all support our plan to push for one more slot for Asia in the Olympics,” Eala told the BusinessMirror on Thursday after attending the draw for the International Basketball Federation (Fiba)-Asia Men’s Championship in Tianjin, China.

The event is set from August 6 to 16.

“I am planning to prepare a declaration or petition which I hope the Fiba-Asia teams can sign in Tianjin,” he added. “I might suggest a dinner with the secretary-generals of the 15 other teams going to China in August for us to meet on this petition.”

Only one slot is allotted for Asia in the Olympics, which means the champion in the 2011 Fiba-Asia Men’s Championship, which the Philippines is bidding to host, will be the continent’s lone representative.

“Korea and Jordan have said that they will support Manila’s bid to host the Fiba-Asia Men’s Championships in 2011,” he said.

In the 2008 Beijing Games, Asia had two representatives, Iran, which topped the 2007 Fiba-Asia event, and China, being the host.

Meanwhile, the Smart Gilas Pilipinas Team’s stint in the Stankovic Cup has yet to be confirmed as Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) officials said they do not have control over which teams to invite.

The SBP will write Fiba honorary president Dr. Carl Mengky Ching and request that Gilas be allowed to see action as the fifth team in the four-nation tournament composed of Turkey, Angola, Australia and host China.

“I spoke to [Fiba-Asia secretary-general] Dato Yeoh and he said he will call Dr. Ching and ask him if they can change the format and schedule with an additional team,” said Eala.