By Rey Joble

WITH some of his mainstays having difficulty fitting into the proposed twice or thrice a week practice in the RP men’s basketball team, coach Yeng Guiao is working out a solution that would be suitable to every member of the squad.

Guiao learned that Purefoods forward Kerby Raymundo was planning to leave the national squad due to his difficulty squeezing the schedule of his practices with his mother team and the national team.

The coach said he cannot afford to lose any of his mainstays and has even broached the idea of adding two more players to his roster.

“We’ll try to ask him to reconsider and make an arrangement to every member of the RP Team wherein the schedule would be suitable for everyone,” Guiao said.

Guiao said Raymundo is one of the most versatile big men in the Philippine Basketball Association.

“Having a fast, big man in international competition will be an edge for us,” Guiao said. “We can’t afford to lose any player at this stage as I have contemplated on adding one or two more players and not drop anyone from our roster. We are in a race against time and our preparation was distorted by the unfortunate events.”

The planned pocket tournament involving Guiao’s quintet, the professional Puerto Rican Club champions, and the RP developmental team handled by Serbian coach Rajko Toroman was canceled due to miscommunication among the organizers.

The Southeast Asia Basketball Association tournament is fast approaching and the Nationals are in desperate measure at this stage to play against anyone before plunging to action in the international event. The Seaba event will be held April 2 with Malaysia serving as host.