INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines - Yeng Guiao dropped the least healthy player in his pool to complete his 12-man Philippine team expected to dominate the Southeast Asian Basketball Association championship early next month in Medan, Indonesia.

Sonny Thoss of Alaska was cut for the Seaba joust because of tendonitis in his left knee, joining Kelly Williams of Sta. Lucia in the sidelines.

Left in the lineup are skipper Asi Taulava, Gabe Norwood, Ryan Reyes, Jared Dillinger, James Yap, Kerby Raymundo, Ranidel de Ocampo, Arwind Santos, Cyrus Baguio, Mick Pennisi, Willie Miller and Jay-Jay Helterbrand.

If Thoss and Williams become healthy enough, they will be included in the roster of the tougher Jones Cup tournament slated to be held in Taipei in the third week of July. That tournament allows a 15-man roster per team.

The Nationals will be joined in Taipei by Japeth Aguilar, the 6-foot-9 former Western Kentucky University mainstay.

Powerade Team Pilipinas leaves for Indonesia on June 4 needing to win all of its five games to formally qualify to a bigger tournament, the Fiba-Asia qualifying for the World Championship in Tianjin, China.

?The decision of coach Yeng was based only on one criteria?health considerations,? PBA commissioner Sonny Barrios told reporters Wednesday night.