Rain or Shine may represent the Philippines in the Asian Games next month in lieu of the 10 Gilas Pilipinas players banned by Fiba (international basketball federation) last week.
Philippine Basketball Association commissioner Willie Marcial said it is almost a done deal, with the team’s schedule in the season-ending Governors’ Cup to be altered for the Painters to squeeze in the Asiad campaign.
Yeng Guiao, Rain or Shine’s former coach who also called the shots in a 2007 Philippine Team that played in the Asian Championship in China, will also likely coach the Painters.
But Rain or Shine cannot take players from other PBA teams with the Governors’ Cup going on.
“That cannot be done, because the PBA will not be stopping play for the Asian Games,” Marcial said.
TNT KaTropa was supposed to represent the Philippines in Indonesia for the Aug. 18 to Sept. 2 Games, but suspensions to Gilas Pilipinas regulars in the aftermath of the brawl last July 2 against Australia all but made the team shorthanded.
Jayson Castro, RR Pogoy and Troy Rosario were in that Gilas team against the Aussies, with Pogoy being meted out a five-game suspension.
Marcial even went on to suggest that Rain or Shine borrow players from the Gilas Cadet program where they can tap the likes of Richie Rivero, Kobe Paras and Abu Tratter.
The PBA’s board of governors will meet Thursday to discuss the matter even as several league standouts have expressed their willingness to play for the PH team.
Arwind Santos, the 2013 Most Valuable Player, and San Miguel Beer teammate Christian Standhardinger, Greg Slaughter of Barangay Ginebra, Vic Manuel of Alaska, Beau Belga of Rain or Shine, among others, have sounded off their willingness as the Philippines tries to qualify for the 2019 World Cup.
Also suspended were Calvin Abueva, Terrence Romeo, Matthew Wright, Japeth Aguilar, Carl Bryan Cruz and Jio Jalalon and naturalized player Andray Blatche.
Fiba also ordered the Philippines to play its first home game, against Qatar in the first week of September in the second round of the qualifying series, behind closed doors.