Denver Nuggets assistant coach for player development and international scout Jarrin Akana was in town to conduct basketball clinics for Nike. He mentioned that suspended cager Asi Taulava would be a big boost to the RP team.

Akana revealed that his brother Brandon was Taulava's teammate at Brigham Young University in Hawaii and he personally knows the Talk 'N' Text center.

"From what I know, he's half-Filipino," added Akana. "At least, I've always known him to be half-Filipino."

Akana said PBA should lift Taulava's suspension and "they should just let him play." Akana added that Taulava's size would be a plus factor for the Philippine team playing against China, South Korea and Japan in the Asian championships.