Coach Chot needs all the help from the PBA to field the best national team possible - FIBA

Even FIBA is apparently aware of the problems Philippine national team head coach Chot Reyes is facing in trying to assemble his squad.

Philippines @coachot needs all the help from the PBA to field the best NT possible when they host FIBA Asia Championship... — FIBA (@FIBA) January 16, 2013  

The international governing body for basketball tweeted out Wednesday, "Philippines @coachot needs all the help from the PBA to field the best NT possible when they host FIBA Asia Championship…" alluding to the problems Reyes has been experiencing securing clearance from teams to release their players for international duty. [Related: Persistent SBP's patience rewarded with FIBA Asia Championship hosting gig] The Philippines was recently given hosting duties for the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship, slated for August. PBA commissioner Chito Salud, during the press conference announcing the event, said, "As a member of the SBP [Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas], we will do our best to help them [the national team] achieve the main objectives, which are to successfully stage this event, to field the strongest team possible, and to make sure that all the owners are on board." SBP President Manuel V. Paniglinan however noted that whether a team would release a player or not was entirely up to the owners, pointing out, "There is no compulsion. We can just appeal to them." [Related: Rain or Shine lends complete support for Gilas, MVP to talk to other team owners for help] So far, the group has been unsuccessful in getting releases for players from San Miguel Corporation-owned squads in particular. Reyes was forced to form a group comprised mostly of cadet team members for the on-going 23rd Dubai Invitational Basketball Tournament, as an example, after five members of the SMC team Petron Blaze Boosters failed to respond to practice invitations. [Related: Gilas roster for Dubai International Tournament released] That squad went 1-2 in the elimination round, with their sole win a mere two-point affair. That said, the team will still compete in the quarterfinals round on Thursday (late Thursday, PHL time) against Lebanese squad Sagesse. Ironically, the sole PBA franchise so far to pledge full support to the National Team has been the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, who are currently down 0-3 in the on-going Philippine Cup Finals to the Pangilinan-owned Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters. - AMD, GMA News