RP 5 should be wary of Lebanon, says SBP’s Eala

MANILA, Philippines – Don’t count Lebanon out among the teams to contend with in the coming 2009 FIBA-Asia men’s basketball championship in Tianjin, China. The Lebanese national squad officially naturalized former NBA draftee Jackson Vroman and is expected to suit up for the team in the August 6 to 16 meet. Online reports had it that the 6-foot-10 American, drafted by the Chicago Bulls in the 2004 NBA Draft, had undergone naturalization process in Lebanon following his spectacular showing in the recent 20th FIBA-Asia Champions Cup in Jakarta, Indonesia. The 28-year old Vroman played as import for the Mahram Tehran team of Iran, which he propelled to the championship. Averaging 27.6 points and 11 rebounds in the 10-day meet, where he was named most valuable player (MVP) of the tournament. The Smart Gilas-RP team beat Lebanon in the Champions Cup, 91-86, with the Lebanese missing the services of team skipper Fhadi El-Khatib. The nationals however, suffered a 98-87 loss to Iran as Vroman torched them for 42 points. Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) executive director Noli Eala confirmed Lebanon’s latest move, which he said the Yeng Guiao-coached Powerade-Team Pilipinas should remember. “Lebanon will be on the rise again. Akala ko all along pababa na sila dahil matanda na yung team. But with the naturalization of Vroman, it seems that we have to seriously contend with them again." Eala said the SBP will be providing Guiao and his coaching staff other pertinent scouting reports it obtained during the Champions Cup once the Powerade-backed national five returns from its campaign in the 8th SEABA men’s championship in Medan, Indonesia. According to Eala, Vroman will be taking the place of injured veteran Joe Vogel from the team. The FIBA-Asia men’s basketball championship serves as the qualifier in next year’s World Basketball Championship in Istanbul, Turkey. Three slots are up for grabs in Asia, the first two Eala is already conceding to powerhouse China and Iran. “The third slot is the one that is up for grabs. Wide-open ito," said the SBP official, who named the Philippines, Japan, Korea, Jordan, Qatar, Lebanon and Kazakhstan as the countries likely fighting for the remaining berth. “Actually, if you include China and Iran, that means nine teams fighting for only three slots. Ganun kahirap ‘yung dadaanan natin," added the former PBA commissioner. – GMANews.TV