TEAM PILIPINAS TRAINING SHIFTS TO HIGHER GEAR IN COMING WEEKS

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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.

"Taulava on RP team: ‘We have some unfinished business"

Taulava on RP team: ‘We have some unfinished business’

Wednesday, November 26th, 2008

www.GMANews.tv

MANILA, Philippines - People used to question Asi Taulava’s roots. But nobody can ever doubt where Taulava’s soul is rooted.

Not after being named to his third RP national team. And most certainly not after being the first guy to raise his hand and holler at his availability to play for flag and country.

“I’m here to support the team. I volunteered myself. Coach [Yeng Guiao] accepted me. Now it’s time to play basketball.”

Taulava’s heft - all 260lbs packed in his 6-9 frame - is most welcome in an undersized squad. But his heart is what makes him stand out, something which could act as a driving force for a RP team still searching for international glory.

“We have some unfinished business,” he declared.

Taulava has been longing for some closure on the Asian basketball scene for some time now, failing in his first two tries in 2002 and ‘07.

In the World Championship qualifiers next year, he hopes a third tour of duty - and the country’s umpteenth bid - won’t end in defeat.

“I just want to win a medal,” Taulava said, referring to the 2009 Fiba-Asia tournament where the top three teams will be given slots to the prestigious 2010 Worlds.

“I’m at the latter end of my career and that’s what motivates me. Hopefully we get a good placing and book ourselves a seat in the World Championships.”

That would be a fitting ending for somebody who has known only disappointment wearing the Stars and Sun.

Taulava’s 2002 campaign in the Korea Asian Games was smoked by a last-second three-pointer by the hosts in the semifinals.

His 2007 attempt was shot down in the Olympic qualifiers after the country’s preparations were marred by an international suspension and an appearance in the “group of death” during the tournament.

Six years since his first overseas tournament, Taulava said he’s learned a lot about the international game: It’s more physical and the refs don’t tolerate bickering teams.

“Fiba basketball is brutal. It’s like mixed martial arts and basketball put together,” Taulava, who turns 36 next March, said.

“I’m telling the younger guys, it’s not the PBA. You can’t complain about pretty much anything. You gotta play 40 minutes of basketball, not take a break in any minute or any second. Because once you do, the next thing you know, the game is over.”

A man of his size makes Taulava a shoo-in for any RP team. He’s not as skilled offensively as most Asians have been developing recently but with Taulava patrolling the paint, at least the Nationals have a body who they can throw against opposing bigs and at the same time give them some scoring.

But the one-time PBA MVP wants his teammates to value his experience in the same way that they value his imposing physique.

“I look forward to teaching the younger guys whatever I learned in my first two trips to a Fiba [International Basketball Federation]tournament. And hopefully, I can lead them and guide them along the way.”

But the clock is ticking. The Nationals need to produce in the World qualifiers next year - possibly Taulava’s last as a RP team member - because the reality is nobody close to Taulava’s brawn is seen coming in to fill in his size-15 shoes any time soon. In short, while the country’s version of Shaq is still around, some hay needs to be made.

Taulava doesn’t shy away from his responsibilities to the team. But he expects his teammates to be up to the task as well.

“I’m just one piece of the puzzle in this team. Coach won’t hear any complaints from me regarding any hard practices or any practices for that matter or any styles he wants us to play. We need to play hard and well. And we need to play to win.”

Serious, fun opening to RP team training camp

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Coach Yeng Guiao meets with Team Pilipinas for the first time in practice on Monday at The Arena in San Juan

MANILA, Philippines – Yeng Guiao set the perfect mood to get his players pumped up for a serious task at hand.

He let them have fun and play loose.

For the first time in a scrimmage environment, the RP team coach met on Monday 12 of the 14 players he will take to the Fiba-Asia Championships next year in Guangzhou, China.

Typical of any Day One atmosphere in previous national training camps, Guiao and his players spent more time bonding and building some chemistry than running through X’s and O’s and triangles and zones.

“Everything’s gonna be light. We’re not gonna burn you out. We’re not gonna overextend you, guys. We just wanna be able to practice the skills that you’ll need in order to execute our offense,” Guiao told his players at The Arena in San Juan.

First-time RP pool members Cyrus Baguio, Jared Dillinger, Willie Miller, Ryan Reyes, Arwind Santos, and Sonny Thoss joined veterans Ranidel de Ocampo, Jayjay Helterbrand, Gabe Norwood, Mick Pennisi, Kerby Raymundo, and Asi Taulava in the opening of camp.

James Yap, who was under the weather, was on the bench and did not participate in the drills. Kelly Williams was nursing an eye injury and did not attend.

“We’ll just be breaking the ice, just make us be familiar with each other,” Guiao said.

The one-hour session looked more like a playground gig, but Guiao used the moment to profile his players’ strengths and weaknesses.

He urged Taulava to put the ball on the floor and attack the basket. He approved of Helterbrand’s fancy shake-and-bake in one instance before he pulled up for a 16-footer. He liked the times Thoss played the one-on-one game, a huge departure from his pinch-post-passing role in Alaska’s triangle offense.

“For example, the big men will have to learn to shoot the ball from the elbow,” Guiao said. “We’ll also run a lot of pick-and-rolls and drive-and-kicks so the guards will have to hit it in a catch-and-shoot situation.”

Guiao gave his players pointers about the system he would like to use. When the timing was right, he spiked his instructions with punchlines.

In one instance where he tried to reach out to his players’ sense of motivation, he dropped a one-liner at Pennisi. “With your talent, guys, and with your intelligence - not you, Mick…”

Serious and fun was meshing seamlessly.

But the humor was just a way to get his message across to his men, a tactic wherein one doesn’t have to be a psychology major to realize its value.

Guiao may have been humoring the players. He may have been communicating his thoughts to individuals. But in the end, he was clearly addressing the team, the whole.

“Remember, in this team, there’s not one, two, or three guys that are gonna be responsible in winning games. We will not let one guy take over the game and ask him to carry this team on his shoulders and win the game for us,” Guiao said.

“Everybody’s responsible. Nobody has to score 30 points for this team to win. All you guys need to do is to take the open shots, look for your open teammates, ran the patterns, and make good decisions. That’s it. That’s how we’re gonna win.”

TEAM PILIPINAS PLUNGES INTO TRAINING

TEAM PILIPINAS PLUNGES INTO TRAINING

Nationals enjoy 1st taste of coach Yeng’s system

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Twelve of the 14-man RP-PBA team had their first taste Monday of the dynamic simplicity of the system national coach Yeng Guiao is bringing in as Training Day commenced for the squad tasked with qualifying to the 2010 World Championship in Istanbul.

And judging from the way Asi Taulava waded into the philosophy – based largely on making the right decision at the right time – and the manner by which Jayjay Helterbrand, Ryan Reyes, Willie Miller and Jared Dillinger – players reared on coaching principles that are vastly different – jumped into the fray with bright eyes and ear-to-ear grins, it would seem everybody had a great time at The Arena in San Juan.

Also attending Day One of the every-Monday practice were Sonny Thoss, Kerby Raymundo, Mick Pennisi, Cyrus Baguio, Arwind Santos, Ranidel de Ocampo, and Gabe Norwood.

James Yap, Raymundo's Purefoods teammate, was nursing a slight cough and watched from the bench, while Kelly Williams of Sta. Lucia Realty, who suffered an eye injury during a recent game, sent word he won't be able to make it.

With Guiao were assistant coaches Gee Abanilla and Roehl Nadurata, and RP team manager Tony Chua. PBA commissioner Renauld 'Sonny' Barrios, who welcomed the players at mid-court before the team went through basic 3-on-3 drills, supervised practice with league operations and technical chief Rickie Santos.

"We'll just be breaking the ice, just make us be familiar with each other," said Guiao, who addressed a concern not only of the players but their mother teams as well.

"Everything's gonna be light. We're not gonna burn you out. We're not gonna overextend you, guys. We just wanna be able to practice the skills that you'll need in order to execute our offense."

While acknowledging the individual talent and skills of each player, Guiao explained that "specific adjustments" will be needed to suit "specific plays."

"For example, the big men will have to learn to shoot the ball from the elbow," he said. "We'll also run a lot of pick-and-rolls and drive-and-kicks so the guards will have to hit it in a catch-and-shoot situation."

There were no scowls, no snarls, no daggers looks – at least not yet – from the multi-titled coach known for his motivational expertise as much as for his penchant for chewing referees and opposing players who get in the way.

Instead, there was much cajoling, and coaxing, and charming – the way they do in college ball.

Guiao urged the six-foot-nine Taulava to take it strong to the hoop from the free throw line, cross-over dribbling in the process.

He whooped when Helterbrand essayed a shake-and-bake and then pulled up for a 16-footer.

And he howled when Thoss, momentarily shaken loose from the rigidity of the Triangle Offense, went one-on-one with his man, displaying some moves that made Miller, his Alaska teammate, swoon.

Overall, the one hour session came off as a cross between free-flowing playground basketball and an organized, quick-thinking game, with Guiao exhorting his team to make a decision – whether to attack, pull back or pass off – and then act on it.

If a sense of uncertainty, even discomfort, prevailed before the Nationals' first session, there were only laughter and good-natured ribbing afterward.

Even Guiao couldn't resist needling Mick Pennisi, a former player with Red Bull now with San Miguel.

Stressing the importance of becoming comfortable with his system, and expressing his faith in them, Guiao told the hushed players: "With your talent, guys, and with your intelligence…not you, Mick..."

The deadpan turned Pennisi's face red and brought a subdued snicker from a delighted Taulava.

Guiao then moved to the crux of his philosophy.

"Remember, in this team, there's not one, two, or three guys that are gonna be responsible in winning games. We will not let one guy take over the game and ask him to carry this team on his shoulders and win the game for us," he said.

"Everybody's responsible. Nobody has to score 30 points for this team to win. All you guys need to do is to take the open shots, look for your open teammates, ran the patterns, and make good decisions. That's it. That's how we're gonna win."

A team captain, Guiao said, will be chosen after two or three practices.

"Among yourselves," he told his players, "somebody has to exercise some leadership. You have to recognize somebody as your team leader. If you wanna be team captain, go for it, campaign, don't be shy about it."