Much-hyped RP 5 tune-up vs Aussies begins Friday

MANILA, Philippines – Powerade Team Pilipinas buckles down to serious work for the first time against a tall and experienced Australian selection team as they clash in the initial part of a two-game exhibition series Friday night at the Araneta Coliseum. Set at 7:30 p.m., the match marks the first public appearance of the PBA-backed nationals under coach Yeng Guiao since its formation in November last year. Preceding the RP-Australia showdown is the clash between the UAAP junior champions Ateneo Blue Eaglets and the NCAA title-holders San Sebastian Staglets at 5:00 p.m. Beefed up by a 7-foot, 240-pound Samoan native in Patrick Pilae, the Aussies will also have in their roster Australian National Basketball League (NBL) superstars 6-9 player-coach Bruce Bolden – a former NBL MVP – 6-7 Graeme Dann, 6-10 Anthony Susnjara and 6-4 Eban Hyams. Backing them up are the Townsville Crocodiles duo of 6-7 Brad Williamson and 6-3 Michael Cedar, and reserves 6-5 Tony Lalic, 6-9 Goran Veg, ABA stars 6-7 Terry Amir, 6-7 Leslie Coe and 5-11 Sami Tsegay and 6-3 rookie Mark De’Riviere. Asi Taulava, meanwhile, serves as the nationals’ skipper that also have assistant team captain Kerby Raymundo, Jayjay Helterbrand, Mick Pennisi, James Yap, Arwind Santos, Gabe Norwood, Sonny Thoss, Willie Miller, Cyrus Baguio, Kelly Williams, Ryan Reyes, Ranidel de Ocampo and Jared Dillinger. “This series will be a point of discovery for us. We will make our adjustments based on what we see in these tune-up games," said Guiao. “We’re a little rough around the edges, considering our limited time together, but the competitive fire is there. What we’ll learn here will help us win in the future." “Frankly, we need more of these types of series because we should expose our national team to the best that we can find," said team manager and Coca-Cola governor JB Baylon. “It's a good thing the PBA was able to arrange this." The team from Down Under arrived early Thursday morning, checked in at the EDSA Shangri-la Hotel, met with Australian Ambassador Rod Smith before noon, had a shoot-around at the Jose Rizal University gym in the afternoon and appeared in a sports television show in the evening. – GMANews.TV