Philippines, 06 Jul 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


PBA commissioner Willie Marcial, ROS owner Raymond Yu, coach Yeng Guiao consider members of PH Five Heroes


PhilBoxing.com



Yeng Guiao.

A day after getting the imprimatur to represent the country in the coming Asian Games, coach Yeng Guiao and members of the Philippine basketball team met for the first time on Monday to start their short but extensive preparations at the Meralco gym in Pasig City.

Only light skirmishes were scheduled, mostly for purposes of designing plays that will be, Guiao hoped, able to master comes competition time as his boys responded spiritedly.

?Maganda ang simula,? Guiao, who is in his second stint as a national mentor following the 2009 FIBA-Asia, assessed. ?Feeling ko, inspired ang mga bata. Alam naman natin na biglaan ito at ilan sa kanila ay hindi man lang makakaisip na makalalaro sila sa Asiad representing our flag had it not for the circumstances presently prevailing in th local basketball community.?

PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial, one of the people responsible for the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas? change of heart from not sending a team to eventually allowing the country?s participation owing to a strong public clamor, agreed.

?Alam mo, dapat nga nating hangaan at purihin and mga manlalarong ito who defied criticism that they don?t really deserve being in the national team,? Marcial emphasized.

?To me, these guys are already winners in the sense that they save Philippine basketball from being in the doldrums had earlier decision to not play in the Asiad pushed through,? Marcial added.

?That? right,? Raymond Yu, who co-owned the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters franchise with Terry Que, butted in. ?These boys saved, too, our relations with all Olympic Council of Asia member countries for agreeing to play in he midst of kantyaw ibibabato sa kanila ng ilang kababayan natin.?

?And for that, I consider them our modern day dheroes, ngayon pa lamang na hindi pa nagsisimua ang Asa Games,? Yu declared.

?Most importantly, we must thank our basketball-crazy kababayans who didn?t stop clamoring that we send a team in a sport closest to their hearts, Marcial said. ?Our thanks also go to the PBA, the SBP and the Philippine Olympic Committee for heeding the insistent demand from our basketball-loving people.?

Given the limited time to prepare and the equally limited talents available, Guiao said his team has sufficient manpower to perform creditably and decently and win as many games possible that will make the Filipinos happy.

?Out of this pool of players, we hope to build a team composed of 12 men who might come short of coming to the medal podium, but, win the admiration and respect of our people and those of our rivals,? Guiao vowed.

?Sisiguruhin namin sa coaching staff at sa mga mamumuno ng ating koponan na ang mga batang ipadadala sa Indonesia ay makapagbibigay karangalan sa aking bansa at sa pangalang Pilipino kung hindi man medalya,? Guiao vowed.

?Of course, we?ll try our best to bring home that coveted basketball medal our countrymen have been craving for for quite sometime,? he added.

All but one members of the team ? Gabe Norwood, Beau Belga, Raymond Almazan, James Yap, Chris Tiu and Maverick Ahanmisi, all of Rain or Shine Paul Lee of Magnolia Hotshots, Stanley Pringle of Global Port, Don Trollano of Talk ?N Text, Asi Taulava of NLEX, Poy Erram of Blackwater and Gilas Cadets Kobe Paras and Ricci Rivero ? were in attendance.

Only San Miguel Beer? contribution to Guiao?s selection, Christian Stanhardinger, wasn?t around, attending the Beermen?s preparation for their on-going best-of-seven series in the PBA Commissioner?s Cup, now in Game 5.

Another Cadet member, Abu Tratter, filled the void in Stanhardinger?s absence by joining the light, but, inspired workout scheduled for the day that satisfied Guiao, assistant coach Coy Garcia, ROS owner Yu PBA Board of Governors member, Atty, Mamerto Mondragon, and PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial, among others.

Before practice began, Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Ricky Vargas, Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) president Al Panlilio, Yu and Guiao spoke to the team in a closed-door meeting.

The squad will leave for Jakarta on August 14 before plunging to action on August 16.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Abdullah Mason Stops Albert Bell To Defend Lightweight Crown
    , Sun, 05 Jul 2026
  • CARLO BIADO IS THE 2026 INDONESIA INTERNATIONAL OPEN CHAMPION
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 05 Jul 2026
  • Fight options for Manny
    By Joaquin Henson, , Sun, 05 Jul 2026
  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimán: The World Cup: a great celebration of peace and joy
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Sun, 05 Jul 2026
  • Abdullah Mason vs Albert Bell Debuts DAZN/TNT Sports Deal
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 04 Jul 2026
  • Jonas Magpantay advances to the quarterfinals
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 04 Jul 2026
  • Weigh-In Results: Abdullah Mason vs. Albert Bell
    , Sat, 04 Jul 2026
  • All Set for the All-Undefeated Clash Between Christopher Guerrero and Delante 'Tiger' Johnson Tomorrow Night in Cleveland
    , Sat, 04 Jul 2026
  • Brave Alvin "Felemon" Dologuin Bested in Australia
    By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 04 Jul 2026
  • BKFC TRIUMPHANTLY RETURNS TO NEWARK’S PRUDENTIAL CENTER ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17
    , Sat, 04 Jul 2026
  • Tony Yoka forced to withdraw from Murat Gassiev WBA heavyweight title shot due to back injury
    , Sat, 04 Jul 2026
  • Recarte Tiauson wins Canlaon chess
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 04 Jul 2026
  • Press Conference Notes: Abdullah Mason and Albert Bell Set for All-Ohio World Title Clash Saturday LIVE on TNT & DAZN
    , Fri, 03 Jul 2026
  • Dologuin Fights Alsayyad: Flyweight Showdown Today in Australia
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 03 Jul 2026
  • Enano to fight for IBO Oceania featherweight title
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 03 Jul 2026
  • IM Garcia captures National Open chess title
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 03 Jul 2026
  • Open Workout: Abdullah Mason and Albert Bell Prepare For Saturday's All-Ohio World Title Showdown
    , Thu, 02 Jul 2026
  • Dela Peña stops Delos Santos, now ready for Slugfest
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 02 Jul 2026
  • A Filipino Champion’s Last Fourth of July: A Visit to Oaks Ball Park
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Thu, 02 Jul 2026
  • Amazing Muay Thai WBC 2026 Festival Consolidates Its Global Success in Bangkok
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 02 Jul 2026
  • IBA Bare Knuckle unveils star-studded fight card ahead of its first event in the USA
    , Thu, 02 Jul 2026
  • Eman-Perez trilogy being set up in August
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 01 Jul 2026
  • Macababayao to face again Latonio after 4 years in Slugfest
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 01 Jul 2026
  • Legendary Olympic Trainer Victor Pascual to be inducted into the Republica Dominicana Hall of Fame
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 01 Jul 2026
  • Abdullah Mason vs. Albert Bell Fight Week Events to Stream LIVE on Top Rank’s Social Media Channels
    , Wed, 01 Jul 2026




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2026 philboxing.com.