18-man RP five down to 12 Sept. 15

MANILA, Philippines– THE Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas has up to Sept. 15 to trim its 18-man Asian Games lineup to 12 players.

POC Deputy Chef  de Mission Mauricio Martelino, who attended the Asian Games delegation registration meeting in Guangzhou recently, said  the SBP also has to submit the names of the coaching staff and team officials next week.

“I think there is no way that can be extended,” Marcelino said of the Sept. 15 deadline set by the POC for the submission of the RP five’s final roster.

 He added that the names of the basketball delegation have to be submitted to the Chinese Asian Games Organizing Committee for accreditation by Sept. 30. 

SBP executive director Noli Eala had submitted for accreditation Rabeh Al Hussani, Rey Guevara  and  RJ Jazul, who were drafted by PBA teams recently, Dylan Ababou, JV Casio, Jason Ballesteros, John Aldrech  Ramos, Chris Tiu, Ricardo Cawaling, Gregory Slaughter, Andy Mark Barroca and Marnel Baracael.

Japeth Aguilar’s name was submitted in the “additional accreditation – 3rd batch”  while Marcio Lassiter’s name was included in the fourth batch along with the names of Asi Taulava, Kelly Williams and James Yap, whose release had been requested in a letter to the PBA board by SBP president Manny Pangalinan.

The roster submitted by Eala also included Ranidel de Ocampo who is injured and cannot  play.

The list of team officials includes coach Rajko Toroman, Talk N’ Text coach Chot Reyes, assistant coach Allan Gregorio, Albert Rolle, SBP official Bernie Atienza and Eala himself.