source: gmanews.tv
It will be finesse versus toughness as the Powerade-Pilipinas men’s basketball team and Smart Gilas RP developmental pool take centerstage in their much-awaited benefit game billed “Pinoy Basketball, Kakampi N’yo" at the Araneta Coliseum.
Game time is 7 p.m. with the one-day event serving as fund-raising activity for the victims of tropical storm “Ondoy."
To start the ball rolling, Harbour Centre owner and outgoing PBL chairman Mikee Romero pledged P500,000 for the event, while Smart Sports head Patrick Gregorio pitched in P300,000. In all, Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) executive director Noli Eala hopes to raise a total of P1.6 million in donation, not counting the gate receipts to be generated for the game.
A charity game it may be but both squads are expected to go all out for a “W."
Serbian coach Rajko Toroman has been all business since Day One, getting his wards to buckle down to work and shaping them up for the daunting task of earning an elusive Olympic berth in 2012.
It’s a fact, according to Powerade Pilipinas team coach Yeng Guiao, which makes Smart Gilas as the favored team in their one-of-a-kind exhibition game.
“Definitely, they have the advantage in terms of cohesion as they’ve been practicing together for so long, unlike us. But we certainly have the talent to match them up," said Guiao.
Guiao will also have to deal with manpower woes as he only has an 11-man line up as of press time.
But the fiery mentor and his troops have only one thing in mind – to win.
No holding back
“When the game starts, there’s really no holding back," said Guiao. “We will definitely go for the win badly as there’s so much pride at stake. They (Gilas) want to earn respect, but we won’t give it to them. If they were in our shoes, they would do the same."
Smart Gilas, a team backed by the SBP and composed of the cream of the crop in amateur basketball, has size, speed and cohesion advantage over the all-pro Powerade-Pilipinas team.
With American slotman CJ Guiles and controversial top overall Philippine Basketball Association 6’9 rookie Japeth Aguilar manning the paint, Smart Gilas has two players who can easily intimidate its frontline counterparts.
But the Gilas cagers have to watch out for the Powerade-Pilipinas’ physical brand of play.
Former PBA Most Valuable Player Asi Taulava, slotman Sonny Thoss and Ranidel de Ocampo will most likely use their experience to the hilt to offset their disadvantages and keep Guiles and Aguilar away from their comfort zone.
The country’s premier collegiate players from the Universities Athletic Association of the Philippines and the National Collegiate Athletic Association will clash with the merged stars of Liga Pilipinas and the Philippine Basketball League in the curtain raiser at 5 p.m.
Guiao and his squad on Sunday had their only practice session after their stint in the FIBA Asia Championship in Tianjin, China where they finished eighth.
Smart Gilas, which has been training regularly, reportedly got involved in a practice game fracas with Talk N Text, which incidentally is being backed by Smart Communications boss and SBP president Manny V. Pangilinan.
De Ocampo, whose spot was given to Aguilar in Tianjin, and Guiles reportedly exchanged blows during that tune-up, adding extra sidelight to the game.
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