Reyes tells vets to exact revenge

MANILA, Philippines - Talk ‘N’ Text coach Chot Reyes said yesterday he reminded the five holdovers from the 2007 national squad that finished ninth at the FIBA-Asia Championships in Tokushima to exact payback on Jordan in Tianjin and the chance will come at 2 this afternoon in a knockout quarterfinal match.

Asi Taulava, Gabe Norwood, Mick Pennisi, Kerby Raymundo and Jay-Jay Helterbrand were on Reyes’ team that lost an 84-76 decision to Jordan in Tokushima, relegating the Philippines to the consolation pool and out of the quarterfinals.

Now, the five remnants are with coach Yeng Guiao in Tianjin and their sights are set on bumping off Jordan. A win will catapult the Philippines to the semifinals and guarantee at least fourth place in the 15th FIBA-Asia Championships.

It won’t be easy beating Jordan but the consensus is the Philippines got a break by landing No. 3 in Group E to avoid a quarterfinals duel with unbeaten Group F survivor China. If the Philippines fell to No. 4, it would’ve faced China instead.

Reyes said Jordan has the advantage in size and familiarity, having stayed together for the last three years under Portuguese coach Mario Palma.

“But we’re coming off a one-day break so we’ll be fresh,” said Reyes. “They’re stronger but in a knockout match, anything can happen. Our advantage is that we will go into the game with a ‘nothing to lose’ mentality because we’ve already exceeded the previous team’s finish.”

Qualifying for the quarterfinals assured the Philippines of at least eighth spot in the standings. It was the first time in nearly 20 years that the national team made it to the quarterfinals.

“I reminded the members of the ’07 team how painful it was when Jordan beat us and this is their chance for payback,” added Reyes. “I told them to go into this game with pain in their memory but pride in their spirit and love for flag in their hearts. They can do it.”

Jordan is back with 10 of its 12 players from Tokushima. The only newcomers are 6-7 Mohammad Hadrab and 7-foot Dshamal Schoetz, renamed Jamal Almutusem Habes Almaaytah. Schoetz, 28, was declared ineligible to play for Jordan in 2007 but has been mysteriously reinstated despite a FIBA rule prohibiting a player from suiting up for another country in his lifetime. The former Wake Forest University center played for the German national junior team in 1998 and his stats are listed in the FIBA Europe website.

In Tokushima, naturalized player Rasheim Wright banged in 24 points and former NBA D-Leaguer Sam Daghlas contributed 22 to lead Jordan to victory over the Philippines. Jordan dominated the boards, 42-28, shot more free throws, 21-2, and committed less turnovers, 8-14, in sealing Reyes’ fate.

At the recent Jones Cup, Jordan blasted the Philippines, 90-59, as 6-9 veteran center Zaid Al-Khas of Gannon University, Pennsylvania, hit 21 points, Wright 12 and Schoetz 10.

Barangay Ginebra coach Joseph Uichico said he would rather take his chances against Jordan than China.

“We have to find a way to offset their size advantage and we should shoot extremely well,” noted Uichico.

Last Wednesday, Guiao rested Pennisi and gave 11 cagers at least 12 minutes of playing time, sparing anyone from an extended stay on the court, in the Philippines’ 85-71 win over Kuwait. Taulava logged the most minutes with 23.