Gold or nothing for RP cagers at SEA Games, vows Mikee Romero

The Philippine basketball team will get the gold medal at the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games or nothing at all. "If this is the gold that really matters, then we assure you that we will bring home the gold," said Mikee Romero, the Harbour Center owner who will head the team that will compete in the 24th edition SEA Games in Thailand from December 6 to 15. Romero was reacting to a recent statement made by Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose “Peping" Cojuangco that Filipinos can lose in any other sport in the SEA Games except basketball. “We will not lose in the SEA Games. We will make sure of this," Romero vowed. Those who will try to keep the basketball gold that has evaded the Philippines only once in SEA Games history – 1989 in Kuala Lumpur – are PBL and collegiate standouts led by back-to-back MVP Jason Castro. Others in the team are Chris Tiu, Allan Salansang, Beau Belga, Chad Alonzo, Jonathan Fernandez, Eugene Tan, Jeff Chan, Boyet Bautista, Patrick Cabahug, Al Vergara, Eric de la Cuesta, Erik Rodriguez, Alex Crisano, Gabe Norwood, and and Jervy Cruz. Norwood, Rodriguez, Tiu, and Vergara are the latest additions to the team. "I'm excited about the opportunity," Norwood, a Fil-American who will play a key role in Thailand, said. "Everybody here has been training hard. They've been working very hard." The final 12 men who will see action against teams from Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Cambodia will be announced during the managers’ meeting on Decenber 4. Action starts on December 7. The coaching staff is led by Junel Baculi and Louie Alas with Ryan Dee and Beujing Acot as assistants. Team manager is PBL commissioner Chino Trinidad with Harbour Center’s Erik Areola as assistant. "Everybody here deserves to be in the team. This is our Philippine team to the Southeast Asian Games," Romero added. "We’ve been preparing hard," Baculi said. "The players are ready to regain the gold medal that we’ve always won except for one instance. Our resolve is hard." The head coach said there’s pressure coming from different quarters, but he feels that whoever makes it to the final roster has what it takes to help the country win the gold. “We’ve been trying to analyze this team everyday," Baculi said."And we don’t want duplication of roles. We will not allow that to happen." Baculi expects Thailand and Indonesia to be the Philippines' toughest rivals. Basketball was not played during the 2005 Manila SEA Games because the Philippines was then under suspension from the International Basketball Federation (FIBA). "We’ve seen the opposition," Baculi said. "And it’s not only the Thais, but the Indonesians we should be wary of. That’s why we’re recorded games of these two teams." - GMANews.TV