PHILIPPINE National Team coach Yeng Guiao said his squad is raring to play some tune-up games prior to the Southeast Asia Basketball Association Championships, which will serve as the qualifying tournament for the Fiba Asia Championships in China in August.

The Asian Championships will in turn decide which teams go into the 2010 World Cup in Turkey.

?We are coming along fine and most of the players are available right now after we gave some players the time and luxury to refresh themselves at the end of the recent All Filipino Conference,? Guiao told www.insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports at the team?s practice at The Arena in San Juan on Monday.

?The players are all very comfortable with each other and the chemistry is good. We are actually raring to play some tune-up games but for one reason or another, they did not push through,? added Guiao.

He said the nationals expect to play some games in the very near future. ?We are just preparing ourselves.?

Guiao said a two-game series against an Australian squad made up of players from the National Basketball League would be a good preparation for the Seaba.

PBA Commissioner Sonny Barrios said the pro-league had practically closed a deal with an Australian group. ?We are looking forward to having them play on the April 3 and 5.?

The latest information on the Seaba from Fiba Asia secretary general Datu Yeoh of Malaysia is that the tournament will take place in the first week of June, although there is no word yet on the site. Ronnie Nathanielsz