HoopWatch
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I am a huge Red Bull fan, but I extremely question the management’s decision not to lend superstar center Enrico Villanueva to the Philippine team for the coming FIBA-Asia competitions. Apparently, Red Bull would be able to loan the up-and-coming star center for the SEABA jousts, which is just a qualifying tourney for the FIBA-Asia. The ultimate goal for Philippine Basketball is to go back to the Olympics. The last time we went there was in 1972.
The SEABA Champions Cup is not challenging for us. We rule this region. We can send a bunch of amateur guys and we can still win the tournament. The only biggest challenge is the Thai National Team which we always massacre. The biggest was at 50, when we sent an all-pro Centennial team to that tourney in 1998. The role of the SEABA competitions is for the Philippine team to jell, and be prepared for FIBA-Asia. So it is useless to allow Villanueve to play in the SEABA, and then forbid him to play for the Olympic qualifier. If that is the case, then get another guy as Villanueva’s replacement. I have confidence in either Kelly Williams or Eric Menk.
One Response to “Red Bull, Why?”
Being an Atenean, I always watch Enrico play in UAAP. I’m not sure if he’s improved a lot in the PBA and I don’t have a chance to watch it, but if he hasn’t then whether he’s in FIBA-Asia or not, it doesn’t make a difference. I watched the last Olympic qualifier some years ago where we sent our best pros. We were good until South Korea has rained us with threes from a team that were all shooters(almost). So unless we can block every outside shooting of top Asian teams, what we need are world class three point shooters!!!!!
And of course, good defensive centers that can give Yao Ming and Yi Jian Lian a hard time.
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