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MANILA, Philippines - People used to question Asi Taulava’s roots. But nobody can ever doubt where Taulava’s soul is rooted.

Not after being named to his third RP national team. And most certainly not after being the first guy to raise his hand and holler at his availability to play for flag and country.

“I’m here to support the team. I volunteered myself. Coach [Yeng Guiao] accepted me. Now it’s time to play basketball.”

Taulava’s heft - all 260lbs packed in his 6-9 frame - is most welcome in an undersized squad. But his heart is what makes him stand out, something which could act as a driving force for a RP team still searching for international glory.

“We have some unfinished business,” he declared.

Taulava has been longing for some closure on the Asian basketball scene for some time now, failing in his first two tries in 2002 and ‘07.

In the World Championship qualifiers next year, he hopes a third tour of duty - and the country’s umpteenth bid - won’t end in defeat.

“I just want to win a medal,” Taulava said, referring to the 2009 Fiba-Asia tournament where the top three teams will be given slots to the prestigious 2010 Worlds.

“I’m at the latter end of my career and that’s what motivates me. Hopefully we get a good placing and book ourselves a seat in the World Championships.”

That would be a fitting ending for somebody who has known only disappointment wearing the Stars and Sun.

Taulava’s 2002 campaign in the Korea Asian Games was smoked by a last-second three-pointer by the hosts in the semifinals.

His 2007 attempt was shot down in the Olympic qualifiers after the country’s preparations were marred by an international suspension and an appearance in the “group of death” during the tournament.

Six years since his first overseas tournament, Taulava said he’s learned a lot about the international game: It’s more physical and the refs don’t tolerate bickering teams.

“Fiba basketball is brutal. It’s like mixed martial arts and basketball put together,” Taulava, who turns 36 next March, said.

“I’m telling the younger guys, it’s not the PBA. You can’t complain about pretty much anything. You gotta play 40 minutes of basketball, not take a break in any minute or any second. Because once you do, the next thing you know, the game is over.”

A man of his size makes Taulava a shoo-in for any RP team. He’s not as skilled offensively as most Asians have been developing recently but with Taulava patrolling the paint, at least the Nationals have a body who they can throw against opposing bigs and at the same time give them some scoring.

But the one-time PBA MVP wants his teammates to value his experience in the same way that they value his imposing physique.

“I look forward to teaching the younger guys whatever I learned in my first two trips to a Fiba [International Basketball Federation]tournament. And hopefully, I can lead them and guide them along the way.”

But the clock is ticking. The Nationals need to produce in the World qualifiers next year - possibly Taulava’s last as a RP team member - because the reality is nobody close to Taulava’s brawn is seen coming in to fill in his size-15 shoes any time soon. In short, while the country’s version of Shaq is still around, some hay needs to be made.

Taulava doesn’t shy away from his responsibilities to the team. But he expects his teammates to be up to the task as well.

“I’m just one piece of the puzzle in this team. Coach won’t hear any complaints from me regarding any hard practices or any practices for that matter or any styles he wants us to play. We need to play hard and well. And we need to play to win.”

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Coach Yeng Guiao meets with Team Pilipinas for the first time in practice on Monday at The Arena in San Juan

MANILA, Philippines – Yeng Guiao set the perfect mood to get his players pumped up for a serious task at hand.

He let them have fun and play loose.

For the first time in a scrimmage environment, the RP team coach met on Monday 12 of the 14 players he will take to the Fiba-Asia Championships next year in Guangzhou, China.

Typical of any Day One atmosphere in previous national training camps, Guiao and his players spent more time bonding and building some chemistry than running through X’s and O’s and triangles and zones.

“Everything’s gonna be light. We’re not gonna burn you out. We’re not gonna overextend you, guys. We just wanna be able to practice the skills that you’ll need in order to execute our offense,” Guiao told his players at The Arena in San Juan.

First-time RP pool members Cyrus Baguio, Jared Dillinger, Willie Miller, Ryan Reyes, Arwind Santos, and Sonny Thoss joined veterans Ranidel de Ocampo, Jayjay Helterbrand, Gabe Norwood, Mick Pennisi, Kerby Raymundo, and Asi Taulava in the opening of camp.

James Yap, who was under the weather, was on the bench and did not participate in the drills. Kelly Williams was nursing an eye injury and did not attend.

“We’ll just be breaking the ice, just make us be familiar with each other,” Guiao said.

The one-hour session looked more like a playground gig, but Guiao used the moment to profile his players’ strengths and weaknesses.

He urged Taulava to put the ball on the floor and attack the basket. He approved of Helterbrand’s fancy shake-and-bake in one instance before he pulled up for a 16-footer. He liked the times Thoss played the one-on-one game, a huge departure from his pinch-post-passing role in Alaska’s triangle offense.

“For example, the big men will have to learn to shoot the ball from the elbow,” Guiao said. “We’ll also run a lot of pick-and-rolls and drive-and-kicks so the guards will have to hit it in a catch-and-shoot situation.”

Guiao gave his players pointers about the system he would like to use. When the timing was right, he spiked his instructions with punchlines.

In one instance where he tried to reach out to his players’ sense of motivation, he dropped a one-liner at Pennisi. “With your talent, guys, and with your intelligence - not you, Mick…”

Serious and fun was meshing seamlessly.

But the humor was just a way to get his message across to his men, a tactic wherein one doesn’t have to be a psychology major to realize its value.

Guiao may have been humoring the players. He may have been communicating his thoughts to individuals. But in the end, he was clearly addressing the team, the whole.

“Remember, in this team, there’s not one, two, or three guys that are gonna be responsible in winning games. We will not let one guy take over the game and ask him to carry this team on his shoulders and win the game for us,” Guiao said.

“Everybody’s responsible. Nobody has to score 30 points for this team to win. All you guys need to do is to take the open shots, look for your open teammates, ran the patterns, and make good decisions. That’s it. That’s how we’re gonna win.”

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Red Bull beefed up its frontline yesterday with the acquisition of Fil-Am forward Mike Holper in a trade with Barangay Ginebra in a move the Photokina franchise hoped could help check its slide in the KFC PBA Philippine Cup.

The Bulls made the deal on the heels of a five-game slump sending the team all the way to the cellar in the all-Filipino tourney.

Holper, a San Diego State product and seventh pick in the 2005 PBA draft, became expendable at Ginebra on Rafi Reavis’ return from injury. Reavis suits up with the Kings as they take on the Coca-Cola Tigers tomorrow at the Olivares Center Gym in Parañaque.

The Bulls picked Holper from the Kings in exchange for an extra 2011 draft right Red Bull acquired in a separate trade with San Miguel involving Mick Pennisi.

Mike Hrabak, Carlo Sharma, Gabby Espinas and rookie Larry Rodriguez were left to man the Red Bull frontline on the departure of Pennisi, Paolo Bugia and Mark Andaya.

Meanwhile, the PBA Commissioner’s Office suspended Paolo Mendoza of Sta. Lucia for one game and fined P20,000 for his back-to-back flagrant fouls in their games against San Miguel and Ginebra.

Over at the Araneta Coliseum, San Miguel Beer and Air21 meet in a grudge match today, pending the final resolution of their controversial duel last Nov. 5.

The Beermen-Express match is set at 5 p.m. to be followed by the 7:30 p.m. game between Talk n Text and Sta. Lucia Realty.

The Realtors have split their last two games with Joseph Yeo erupting for a career high 38 points in their 100-95 upset of the Beermen last Wednesday.

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Ronjay Buenafe

COCA-COLA relied on the hot shooting of Ronjay Buenafe in the fourth quarter to silence Purefoods Tender Juicy, 93-72, to end a three-game slump Friday night in the 2008-09 KFC-PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.

Buenafe had12 of his 18 points in the final canto to help the Tigers break away from a close contest and more importantly put the team in a better position to avoid an early elimination.

The win gave Coke a 4-7 win-loss mark, just a game behind the Giants who absorbed their second straight loss for a 5-7 mark.

“Big win sa amin ito after losing three straight games tapos Purefoods is really a tough team to beat,” said head coach Kenneth Duremdes.

The Tigers were still holding a 61-55 edge entering the final canto when Coke unleashed a decisive 14-6 exchange capped by Mark Macapagal’s three-pointer to pad the lead to 75-61 with 8:02 left.

After Purefoods center Enrico Villanueva split his charities, 62-75, Macapagal hit another trey that started another 11-2 exchange with Buenafe finishing the scoring spree with back-to-back three-pointers to take the game for good, 86-64, a little over five minutes left in the game.

Nic Belasco added 14 points for the Tigers who also beat Purefoods in the first round, 103-102, in double overtime.

James Yap led the Giants with 15 points, but only six came after the break. Kerby Raymundo also had 15 for coach Ryan Gregorio.

Scores:

First Game

Coca-Cola 93 – Buenafe 18, Belasco 14, Cabagnot 11, Telan 11, Taulava 10, Macapagal 6, Catli 6, Misolas 6, Enrile 5, Arigo 4, Dimaunahan 2, Rizada 0.

Purefoods 72 – Yap J. 15, Raymundo 15, Villanueva 15, Alvarez 10, Lanete 8, Aban 4, Belga 3, Robinson 2, Fernandez 0, Bugia 0, Salavador 0.

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Alaska Milk looks to firm up its hold of the lead in the KFC PBA Philippine Cup and become only the third team in league history to nail a 700th victory when it clashes with Rain or Shine today at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Aces and the Elasto Painters mix it up at 5 p.m. with the former out to keep their mastery of the latter and earn another milestone for the Uytengsu franchise, joining San Miguel Beer and Barangay Ginebra in the 700 Club.

Alaska, on its 21st season in the league, is on track to making it to the elite roster in a record pace. San Miguel notched its 700th win in its 25th season in 1999 while Ginebra hit the milestone in the last Fiesta Conference or in its 29th year in the league.

The league’s most successful team in the 90s, the Aces scored 593 of the franchise’s 699 wins under coach Tim Cone.

And its is fancied to earn the mark since Rain or Shine has yet to beat it since joining the pro league in 2006.

Alaska won its four meetings against the Asian Coating franchise last season by an average margin of 14.5 points. Overall, the Aces have beaten the Elasto Painters in nine games by an average margin of 11.8 points.

The Aces, led by Willie Miller with 21 points, whipped the Elasto Painters, 91-84, in their first meeting this season last Oct. 19.

“We need to contain the enthusiasm they bring to each game,” said Cone in their bid for a repeat win.

“We’re excited to play Alaska because we know we’re up for a great test. We know it’s tough to beat Alaska but we believe we’ll have a good chance if we play as a team on both ends of the court,” said Rain or Shine coach Caloy Garcia.

Alaska leads the field with an 8-2 win-loss card while Rain or Shine is at third at 5-4.

Second-running San Miguel Beer takes on Sta. Lucia in the other game, hoping to bounce back from a loss to Alaska Milk the last time out.

“Everybody’s bunched closely so this is a crucial game. We need to get some distance between us and the next teams behind us,” said San Miguel coach Siot Tanquingcen. “They (the Realtors) have key players who are injured. Even then, they’re playing well so we expect a battle.”

The Realtors may become short-handed even more with Kelly Williams a doubtful starter with a swollen right eye.

Ryan Reyes finally rejoined the Realtors in practice yesterday but coach Boyet Fernandez ruled out the possibility of the 2008 top rookie being fielded in this game.