By Bingo P. Dejaresco III
The Bohol ChronicleMore than half of the nation of 87 million believers in the superiority of Philippine basketball folded their tents and wore ashes on their heads last night (Money) when the strong Jordanian team beat RP 84-76.
RP earlier lost to Iran 75-69 and consoled themselves by beating China (B Team) 79-74 (the first time after 22 years).
Since only two Asian teams would qualify from the Tokushima FIBA to the Beijing Olympics, all this basketball-crazed country's dreams ended in a nightmare.
All this post-game b*** that we were unnecessarily crowded into a Group of Death featuring three of Asia's four best teams is just that: b***. Because we would eventually meet them (Iran and Jordan) anyway down the line. And Iran and Jordan beat us - and there is no room for more than two. So what's the fuss about the Group of Death?
Maybe, not being there would bring RP higher than the best place of 9th for the consolation round playoffs. But going higher than 9th place would nonetheless not bring RP to the Olympics.
Let's be frank and state how we could possibly get there.
RP can never go to the Olympics if we don't develop 6'7 guys with heft who can dribble and shoot - not just rebound. You can have the best point guards in Asia but you can only use one of them usefully at any time inside the court. And the goal is vertical - the taller and heftier ones with brains will have the edge.
RP can never go to the Olympics with the attitudes of these too highly-paid, prima donna basketball stars of the PBA who have fame and fortune solely on their minds.
Except for the gutsy plays of Williams, Alapag, Caguioa, Raymundo, Taulava and Hontiveros - many of them played as if they were afraid to get hurt. Maybe they should try ballet dancing lessons.
Watching them play reminded us of the absence of players who appeared willing to engage the enemy as gladiators in the arena like Ed Ocampo, Tembong Melencio, Carlos Badion and Robert Jaworski, if you insist.
RP will never go to the Olympics if we don't have a rigid physical training program to stretch the limits of these cage millionaires who seemed fagged out in Japan after a series of games and had physical injuries during the games.
RP will never go to the Olympics if we don't develop a lethal, deadly team who can all shoot three pointers. Because of our relatively small size, that is the only way to beat a stratospheric team - three points for their two points inside the paint. We remember Korea upset mighty China for the Asian championships not too long ago by scoring more three point shots than two point shots. Korea beat China by one point.
Enough of arm chair analysis and let's get on with a program to win the ABC (Asian Basketball Conference) title two years from now.
The Olympic slot will just fall in place.
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Topic: No Excuse for Philippine Basketball Team (Read 1116 times)