Lebanon five mentor says RP improving

source Ronnie Nathanielsz | manilastandardtoday.com

LEBANON coach Dragan Raca said the Powerade-Team Pilipinas is improving with every game and if they make it beyond the group stages of the Fiba Asia Championships in Tianjin, China, next week, “they will be 50-percent better than now.”

Raca made the assessment following his team’s scrimmage with the Philippines was called off after a few minutes of the third quarter because of the slippery court surface at the Moro Lorenzo gym in the Ateneo campus with Lebanon ahead, 48-34.

The Lebanon coach pointed out that lack of playing together and international competition have hurt the Philippines.

“But with every game, they will be better,” said Raca.

Asked about the chances of beating main rivals Japan and South Korea in the group matches in Tianjin, Raca said: “You have a tough chance because in every game of the tournament, the Philippine team gets better. I think you need more time.”

But Raca said that if the RP team makes the second round as expected, and may in fact face Lebanon again, they will be 50- to 60-percent better.

National coach Yeng Guiao conceded that the bigger Middle East teams will be hard to beat.

“But against Korea, Chinese Taipei and Japan, I think our chances will be a lot better,” said Guiao, whose problems have been compounded by the fact that Ryan Reyes, who has a recurring groin injury, won’t be able to play and Mick Pennisi is recovering from bronchitis.

Shooting star James Yap’s arrival in Tianjin will be delayed because of the death of his mother-in-law, former President Corazon Aquino. Ronnie Nathanielsz