TEAM PILIPINAS TRAINING SHIFTS TO HIGHER GEAR IN COMING WEEKS

www.pba.ph

The easy, free-flowing training road to the FIBA-Asia Men's Championship will turn steep and arduous for the PBA-Philippine team three weeks from now.

National coach Yeng Guiao announced during Monday's resumption of team practice at The Arena in San Juan that he will be calling two or three two-hour sessions beginning February – maybe even by the last week of January.

"We're still in the familiarization stage," Guiao said. "We're trying to get as much in without bothering the teams playing in the quarterfinals.

"But as the tournament gets closer, we have to go deeper into training. At saka by February, apat na lang ang naglalaro sa PBA. Six teams will have their players free."

The August 6-16 FIBA-Asia tournament in Tianjin, China – qualifying competition for the 2010 World Championship in Istanbul – is the target of Guiao's preparation.

To get there, however, the PBA-backed national squad will have to go through the Southeast Asian Basketball Association tourney on April 2 to 6 – the same route taken by Chot Reyes' RP team in 2007 to qualify for the Tokushima FIBA-Asia Championship, the regional elimination for the Beijing Olympics.

No official venue has been set for the SEABA tiff although the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, under telecommunications czar Manny V. Pangilinan, is reportedly putting up a bid for its staging.

"As I've told the players, this is the time to do all family obligations, and to let all injuries heal. Gawin na nilang lahat ng dapat nilang gawin ngayon so they can focus on their obligation to the team when tournament time comes," Guiao said.

"We can be a little lenient with their schedule now. But as the tournament gets closer, we'll be stricter with attendance."

PBA commissioner Renauld 'Sonny' Barrios, who attended the RP team's first practice for 2009 along with league operations and technical chief Rickie Santos, said, meanwhile, that plans are afoot to send Guiao on a couple of scouting trips within Asia.

"Maybe that can be arranged since the team has very limited foreign exposure due to the tight PBA schedule," Barrios said. "Para masilip rin niya yung mga magiging kalaban. Puwede niya sigurong subaybayan pag may tournaments doon."

"Puwede siguro. After all, I have more time in my hands now," said Guiao, who announced his resignation as Red Bull head coach a few days ago.

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GUIAO STEPS DOWN AS RED BULL CHIEF TACTICIAN

Roseller "Yeng" Guiao, with a heavy heart, stepped down Friday as coach of Red Bull with the team having been reduced from perennial contender to spoiler.

The team management was not available for comment on Guiao's resignation and on his replacement.

"It was the sentiment of everybody (all the members of the Guiao family) that I have done everything I could for the team in the nine years I was with the team," said Guiao after finalizing his decision over dinner with his family.

"If I were to define my career right now, I would say it was my stint with Red Bull. Not giving less importance on the years before that, pero talagang lutang ang mga taon ko with Red Bull," added Guiao, who had previous coaching stints in the pro league with Swift Might Meaty and Pepsi.

The fiery mentor won three championships in nine years with the Photokina franchise of the Chua family.

Even with him gone, Guiao believes, though, that Red Bull will regain its old lofty status in the future, owing, for one, to the great attributes of team owner George Chua whom he described as a "fighter like me."

"I don't think it (the hard times or the slump) would be permanent. Knowing Boss George, he's a fighter and he won't be happy not to regain the team's competitiveness. Red Bull is not just about me. Red Bull pa rin yan kahit wala ako," said Guiao.

He stressed he just quit his job on the uncertainties on where the team is heading at the moment.

“I have my personal objective which is not just participating but to be there competing competitively. That concern hasn’t been addressed. Lumala pa noong nawala si Cyrus Baguio,” said Guiao.

Gone ahead of Guiao were former Red Bull mainstays Willie Miller, Kerby Raymundo, Rico Villanueva, Lordy Tugade, Larry Fonacier, Junthy Valenzuela, Topex Robinson, Rich Alvarez, Mick Pennisi, Celino Cruz and Cyrus Baguio.

With a badly decimated lineup, the Bulls were the first team eliminated in the ongoing PBA tourney, winning only five of 18 games in the double-round elimination play.

Before that, Red Bull had always been a force to reckon with, having a long streak of finishes inside the top four.

"I really have no problem with them except that the competitiveness of the team has dipped." I'll continue to have high respect for them who I consider like my family," Guiao said.

In the meantime, Guiao said he will devote his time with the national team and the province of Pampanga where he's the vice governor.

He stressed, though, that he's open to coaching another team.

"National team at probinsya na muna ako. We'll see what comes up. If there's an offer, of course, I will consider," he said.

Guiao had no legal problem to think about in quitting his job as he's not bound by a contract with Red Bull.

"Ako nagsabi sa kanila na huwag na kaming mag-kontrata dahil alam naman nila kung saan ang loyalty ko," he said.