PRO league Commissioner Noli Eala has dubbed the three
successive setbacks of the SMC-Philippine team in the import-loaded 18th FIBA-Asia
Champions Cup in Tehran "a reality check."
National coach Chot Reyes, half a globe away, would hardly
disagree.
"No excuses. There’s obviously much to be done. We’re still a
long way off," Eala said.
Eala bared his after SMC-RP, wracked by injury, absorbed a
34-point shellacking from Syria, following double-digit losses to host Iran and
Kazakhstan.
"It’s a bitter pill to swallow," Eala said Wednesday night
when he dropped by the PBA press room at the Araneta Coliseum.
The unpalatable taste notwithstanding, it’s a prescription
the nationals must hold their noses to, close their eyes, and drink.
"We went to Tehran knowing for a fact that it’s a club
championship that will utilize two imports of unlimited height while we have
none," said Eala.
"Nonetheless, we went there to play competitive basketball
and to improve. That we lost is tough, but it’s a learning experience we must
accept."
Eala made it clear the PBA remains "steadfast" in its support
of the basketball program drawn by Reyes for the all-pro squad aiming to return
to the Olympic Games next year in Beijing.
"We are very confident the team will move on and perform
better as the tournament schedule progresses," he said.
