(From Asian Journal)
The Philippine National Basketball Team is coming to town.
For the first time in Philippine basketball history, a Philippine national basketball squad will play a series of games against teams from the Associated Basketball Association (ABA) professional basketball league in Southern California.
The Smart-Gilas National team will play against the ABA’s San Diego Surf on April 25, Los Angeles Slam on April 26 and Riverside Rainmakers on April 27.
"The Smart-Gilas team’s debut in the American Basketball Association (ABA) league is a historic one," said Paul Monozca, Vice-Chairman of ABA Global. "The country has been dreaming of playing pro basketball in the United States, same as teams from all over the world. Today, the dream has now become a reality. ABA Global is here."
The Smart-Gilas team is headed by coach Rajko Toroman and fields a team that includes PBA number 1 draft pick 6’9" Japeth Aguilar, 7’0" Greg Slaughter and guard Chris Tiu.
The Philippine team is the 2nd team to play in the ABA after China’s Beijing Aoshen team.
The Smart Gilas team will face formidable opponents in The San Diego Surf whose line-up includes seven footers Guy Paselany and Cameron Koford and scoring champion Terry Menefee, as well as seasoned veteran players who have played professional basketball in Europe and China.
The Los Angeles Slam are the current 2009-2010 ABA champions led by 6’5" star "The Game," streetball And1 legend Larry "Bone Collector" Williams and ex-NBA players Jeff Trepagnier and Tony Farmer. And the Riverside Rainmakers is a leading California division team.
Although next week’s games are glorified exhibits or "Friendship Games," it gives Pinoy basketball fans a chance to see a team that has high hopes of making it to the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. The last time the Philippines National Basketball team qualified for the Olympics was in 1972 in Germany.
Step up in competition
The Smart-Gilas National Team will also step up its competition permanently when it makes its official entry in the ABA next year. The Philippine team will be adopted by Daly City, California for next years pro games and there will also be a Filipino player in a roster of several ABA teams, according to Monozca.
Having the Smart-Gilas National Team train and play in the US is a smart move, said Donald Sanchez, Southern California chairman for the ABA and the general manager and owner of the LA Slams.
The Smart-Gilas team has played in a series of international events from Indonesia to Dubai recently but if the Philippines plan to qualify for the 2012 Olympics, they need to face tough competition on a regular basis and the ABA has some of the best basketball players around, said Sanchez.
"I know the Philippine team recently won a bronze medal in a recent international competition and placed fifth in another," said Sanchez. "But I think this is a good measuring tests for us and them. The ABA wants to show that we have some of the best and strongest teams in the nation and if the Philippines wants to make it to the 2012 Olympics this is a big step for them and this is the road they have to take."
Basketball is arguably the No. 1 or No. 2 sport followed by Filipinos around the world. Only boxing surpasses its popularity.
Having the Philippine National team qualify for the Olympics would not only bring pride to the basketball-crazed island but also signifies a rebound to a once proud basketball team.
Historically, the Philippines once dominated Asia with the national basketball team consistently qualifying for the Olympics from 1948 to 1972. But after 1972, other Asian countries like China, Japan and Korea had caught up. In 2007, the team was filled with PBA all-stars and trained at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Ca. by playing Division 1 teams Cal State University, Fullerton and Cal State University Long Beach. However, the team failed to make it pass the FIBA Asia Men’s Championship tournament.
Playing in the ABA would give the Philippine national team members a step up in competition.
ABA expansion
Sanchez said playing against the Philippines symbolizes more than the US against the Philippines.
"This is the US against the world," he said. "This is an open invitation to show the world what the ABA is all about."
He said the inclusion of the Philippines into the league is part of the league’s global program. He said up to as many as 20 international teams - Japan, Korea, China, Australia, and Europe - would join the league in the next few years.
The Philippine National Basketball Team is coming to town.
For the first time in Philippine basketball history, a Philippine national basketball squad will play a series of games against teams from the Associated Basketball Association (ABA) professional basketball league in Southern California.
The Smart-Gilas National team will play against the ABA’s San Diego Surf on April 25, Los Angeles Slam on April 26 and Riverside Rainmakers on April 27.
"The Smart-Gilas team’s debut in the American Basketball Association (ABA) league is a historic one," said Paul Monozca, Vice-Chairman of ABA Global. "The country has been dreaming of playing pro basketball in the United States, same as teams from all over the world. Today, the dream has now become a reality. ABA Global is here."
The Smart-Gilas team is headed by coach Rajko Toroman and fields a team that includes PBA number 1 draft pick 6’9" Japeth Aguilar, 7’0" Greg Slaughter and guard Chris Tiu.
The Philippine team is the 2nd team to play in the ABA after China’s Beijing Aoshen team.
The Smart Gilas team will face formidable opponents in The San Diego Surf whose line-up includes seven footers Guy Paselany and Cameron Koford and scoring champion Terry Menefee, as well as seasoned veteran players who have played professional basketball in Europe and China.
The Los Angeles Slam are the current 2009-2010 ABA champions led by 6’5" star "The Game," streetball And1 legend Larry "Bone Collector" Williams and ex-NBA players Jeff Trepagnier and Tony Farmer. And the Riverside Rainmakers is a leading California division team.
Although next week’s games are glorified exhibits or "Friendship Games," it gives Pinoy basketball fans a chance to see a team that has high hopes of making it to the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. The last time the Philippines National Basketball team qualified for the Olympics was in 1972 in Germany.
Step up in competition
The Smart-Gilas National Team will also step up its competition permanently when it makes its official entry in the ABA next year. The Philippine team will be adopted by Daly City, California for next years pro games and there will also be a Filipino player in a roster of several ABA teams, according to Monozca.
Having the Smart-Gilas National Team train and play in the US is a smart move, said Donald Sanchez, Southern California chairman for the ABA and the general manager and owner of the LA Slams.
The Smart-Gilas team has played in a series of international events from Indonesia to Dubai recently but if the Philippines plan to qualify for the 2012 Olympics, they need to face tough competition on a regular basis and the ABA has some of the best basketball players around, said Sanchez.
"I know the Philippine team recently won a bronze medal in a recent international competition and placed fifth in another," said Sanchez. "But I think this is a good measuring tests for us and them. The ABA wants to show that we have some of the best and strongest teams in the nation and if the Philippines wants to make it to the 2012 Olympics this is a big step for them and this is the road they have to take."
Basketball is arguably the No. 1 or No. 2 sport followed by Filipinos around the world. Only boxing surpasses its popularity.
Having the Philippine National team qualify for the Olympics would not only bring pride to the basketball-crazed island but also signifies a rebound to a once proud basketball team.
Historically, the Philippines once dominated Asia with the national basketball team consistently qualifying for the Olympics from 1948 to 1972. But after 1972, other Asian countries like China, Japan and Korea had caught up. In 2007, the team was filled with PBA all-stars and trained at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Ca. by playing Division 1 teams Cal State University, Fullerton and Cal State University Long Beach. However, the team failed to make it pass the FIBA Asia Men’s Championship tournament.
Playing in the ABA would give the Philippine national team members a step up in competition.
ABA expansion
Sanchez said playing against the Philippines symbolizes more than the US against the Philippines.
"This is the US against the world," he said. "This is an open invitation to show the world what the ABA is all about."
He said the inclusion of the Philippines into the league is part of the league’s global program. He said up to as many as 20 international teams - Japan, Korea, China, Australia, and Europe - would join the league in the next few years.
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