YENG GUIAO

Philippine team coach Yeng Guiao has conceded that the balance of power in Asian basketball has shifted to the Middle East, and countries like Iran, Lebanon, and Jordan, the top three placers in the recent Jones Cup, have the all around skill to earn seats in the World championship next year.

“These are the teams that can give even China, a good fight,” said Guiao in yesterday’s PSA Forum during which he assessed the country’s rivals and the Filipinos’ chances after their performance in the Jones Cup.

“They have the size, they have shooting, and they have speed. They also have naturalized players and seven-footers. I’m not saying it’s impossible to beat them, but it takes a lot of effort,” Guiao added.

The Philippines finished with a disappointing 2-6 record in the Jones Cup where they lost by big margins to Jordan, Lebanon, and Iran.

PBA commissioner Renauld “Sonny” Barrios, also at the forum, however, commended the team for trying its best despite injuries to key players.

“The team is hampered by injuries, illness. Kelly Williams was practically a shoo-in, but he’s the first casualty (blood disorder). We’re also hampered at the guard spot as Ryan Reyes remains a big question mark,” Barrios said.

“Malaking limitation, but having said that, we’ll give it our best. Wala na kami hihingin pa sa mga players, they know the difference of playing in the PBA and for the national team,” he added.

The nationals will leave for Tianjin, China on August 4 for the FIBA-Asia Championship set Aug. 6-16, with the top three finishers earning slots in the 2010 World Championship in Turkey.

Guiao said he hopes to use the remaining eight days to sharpen their outside shooting, as well as improve other areas of the game such as running picks and screens.

“Hindi naman malaking adjustment. We just have to get in shape, kaya pa i-improve ‘yung shape. We also have to get our three-point shooting. Our emphasis on practice is three-point shooting,” he said.

In the Jones Cup, James Yap and Mick Pennisi, considered two of the best outside gunners in the pro league, were off-target.

Also, because of various injuries, Jayjay Helterbrand saw limited playing minutes, while Ryan Reyes was totally sidelined.

The Philippines is bracketed in what it considers as the “Group of Hope” in Group A with South Korea, Japan, and Sri Lanka in the FIBA-Asia. Despite losing to Japan and Korea in the Jones Cup, Guiao said “they can be beaten.”

“Against teams from our (Asian) region, we have a good chance. We know they’ve not played their full force. Jones Cup is a feeling out tournament. It’s nicer if we have won one or two more games,” said Guiao.

“We just played our natural game in Jones Cup, totoo ‘yun but without the intention of losing. The guys will know it’s urgent. Sa Jones Cup parang wala pa e, sa Tianjin they have to feel that urgency,” he added.