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Coach Yeng Guiao announced today his RP selection. I was able to listen to his live phone patch interview at NBN Sports this afternoon. It's surprising that Dondon Hontiveros is not included in the line-up.

RP basketball team for World qualifiers named

MANILA, Philippines - Another all-star team has been assembled. This time, the country hopes the result will be different.

RP basketball head coach Yeng Guiao announced on Thursday the roster of the national team that will compete in the Fiba-Asia men's championship next year, the qualifying tournament for the World Championship.

Among Guiao's choices include four players who have combined to win five of the last six MVP awards, led by two-time Philippine Basketball Association MVP Willie Miller and reigning MVP Kelly Williams.

Besides Miller and Williams, RP coach Yeng Guiao also tabbed Ranidel de Ocampo, JayJay Helterbrand, Gabe Norwood, Mick Pennisi, Kerby Raymundo, and former MVPs James Yap and Asi Taulava.

All players mentioned except for Miller were on the squad that appeared in the Olympic qualifiers for Asia held last year in Japan.

Guiao also picked out Cyrus Baguio, Jared Dilinger, Arwind Santos, Ryan Reyes, and Sonny Thoss.

The Fiba-Asia tournament will be held September 1 to 9, 2009 in Guangzhou, China. The World Championship will be from August 23 to September 12 in Istanbul, Turkey.

"We plan to start practicing on Monday [at The Arena in San Juan] and invite all players to the line up for orientation dinner," Guiao said during the team presentation held at the league office in Libis, Quezon City.

"We'll talk about the philosophy of the team, set the objective and bond together for the first time."

The average height of the team is six feet and four inches, a ceiling Guiao called "not bad enough".

"This is not as big as I want it to be. We even wanted to have a naturalized player, but Mick and Asi are here. At least they can provide size to a certain degree," Guiao said, adding that the team's speed and perimeter shooting will try to offset the lack of the height.

Guiao did not discount the possibility of adding two more players, one of who could be Japeth Aguilar.

Guiao stressed that the composition of the team was "really a product of the coaching advisory group," referring to the council of former national coaches including Robert Jaworski, Norman Black, Tim Cone, Jong Uichico and Chot Reyes. - GMANews.TV

Comparing to my RP roster, I missed Ryan Reyes, Cyrus Baguio and Jared Dillinger. This ain't the final roster yet. In fact West Kentucky center Japeth Aguilar could most likely be inserted in the roster by May next year.