NATIONALS LEAVE FOR TOKUSHIMA READY TO WAGE WAR

MANILA – Spurred on by a nation where a Summer Games appearance was a lofty dream once, and where the politics of hatred finds momentary solace when a local athlete's pursuit of worldwide sporting excellence takes center stage, San Miguel-Team Pilipinas, the modern-day version of Jason and the Argonauts, leaves Wednesday afternoon for Tokushima, Japan to vie for the Golden Fleece – an Olympic berth in the FIBA-Asia Men's Championship.
No less than the FIBA-Asia title, or a runner-up finish to defending champion China and nobody else, will be acceptable to national coach Chot Reyes, who brought together within a five-month period, and against an array of adversities, 15 men, all but one of them PBA stars, who will wage war with the best of Asia for the chance to represent the continent to the Beijing Olympiad in August next year.Of the 15 – Asi Taulava, Jimmy Alapag and Renren Ritualo of Talk N Text, Tony de la Cruz of Alaska, Mark Caguioa, Jayjay Helterbrand and Eric Menk of Barangay Ginebra, Dondon Hontiveros and Danny Seigle of San Miguel Beer, Ranidel de Ocampo of Air21, Kerby Raymundo and James Yap of Purefoods, Kelly Williams of Sta. Lucia Realty, Mick Pennisi of Red Bull, and Gabe Norwood of George Mason U who secured his Philippine passport late Monday evening after getting clearance from the justice department earlier – three will be dropped before the Team Managers Meeting on July 27 to make way for the Final 12.The trimmed-down Nationals then embark on their quest by taking on Iran on July 28, China on July 29, and Jordan on July 30 in the preliminary round."We've done everything humanely possible to prepare for Japan," said Reyes, who talked as though he trained not players but gladiators for combat in the Roman Colosseum."It now boils down to execution, desire and pride. And prayers from the Filipino nation."PBA commissioner Noli Eala recalled the sacrifices the national team undertook from Day One."For nearly 147 days, the PBA-backed SMC-Pilipinas national team labored and sacrificed for one solitary chance of a lifetime in search of our Olympic dream," Eala said."Today, with our collective sweat and hard work as our capital, and our faith in the Almighty as our guide, we embark on a mission undaunted by the enormity of the task ahead."This is a quest to bring honor, pride and respect to 82 million basketball-loving Pinoys. With each game, we carry their dreams and their hopes, and we ask the whole nation to pray for our team."PBA chairman Ricky Vargas urged the Nationals to pour their hearts out in the fulfillment of their commitment."It is not committing to do your best that is hard, you have already done that," Vargas said. "It is living up to that commitment that is difficult. So live it up to the fullest by achieving the task ahead of you."We are proud of what you have become as a team. The impossible is possible. Let's go to the Olympics!"SMC-RP team manager Robert Non said the tournament is as much about redemption and respect as anything else."This is it, the culmination of our sacrifices and hard work for the past two year," Non said. "Now it is time for us to pray and support the SMC-Pilipinas team as our national players carry our dreams of redemption in international basketball."It's not only the championship that matters, but more importantly bringing back respect for us Filipinos."The Nationals attend one last practice at Sportskamp in The Fort Wednesday morning before proceeding to the Centennial Terminal for the 2:30 p.m. Philippine Airlines flight to Osaka.A two-hour bus ride will take them to the Tokushima Prince Hotel at around 9 p.m.

Source: http://www.pba.ph/content/view/1731/59/

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