MANILA, Philippines - Coach Yeng Guiao said the Powerade Team Pilipinas will remain focused on its task to make the grade for the 2010 World Championship in Turkey next year despite the uncertainty of the SBP status in the Fiba roster.

Barring another suspension of the Philippines by the world governing cage body, Powerade-RP opens its campaign in the Asian world qualifier versus Sri Lanka on Aug. 6.

The Nationals next take on the Japanese on Aug. 7 then the Koreans the following day.

“Our mandate is to prepare for the Fiba-Asia Championship and we’ll do that. I’m just the coach. We’ll go where they ask us to go. We’ll take the orders from the big bosses,” Guiao told The STAR.

He, however, refused to comment on the stand the SBP took, rebuffing the FIBA orders to join the special body’s inquiry.

“That’s totally out of our control. That’s policy matters between SBP and Fiba,” said Guiao.

The SBP, under the leadership of telecoms mogul Manny V. Pangilinan, is protesting what it considers Fiba’s “unwarranted intrusion” following the world cage body’s formation of a special commission to apparently force the issue between SBP and remnants of the old Basketball Association of the Philippines.

In a press briefing Wednesday, Pangilinan and the SBP board of trustees stressed they will not participate in any proceedings to be undertaken by the commission formed by the Fiba Central Committee “in response to arising issues and various correspondences” from the BAP.

Meanwhile, the Nationals welcome the addition of Japeth Aguilar as they return to practice Monday. The 6-foot-10 Aguilar, who has just completed a stint with Western Kentucky in the US NCAA, was set to arrive last night.

Aguilar joins the Nationals as they compete in the Jones Cup in Taipei from July 18-28.

After three games in the Jones Cup, Guiao and his staff will have to decide on their Final 12 for the Fiba-Asia Championship since the deadline for submission of lineup for the Tianjin meet is July 22.

Aside from Aguilar, other players vying for slots in the Asian championship are Asi Taulava, Mick Pennisi, Sonny Thoss, Kerby Raymundo, Ranidel de Ocampo, Arwind Santos, James Yap, Gabe Norwood, Jarred Dillinger, Willie Miller, Jayjay Helterbrand, Cyrus Baguio and Ryan Reyes. Kelly Williams is out with a blood disorder problem.

SBP and PBA officials are hopeful the RP team will do well in Tianjin as besides from getting a good break on the draw, the Nationals also got a favorable schedule where they could build momentum to ride on in time for the playoffs.

The Philippines plays Sri Lanka in the 9 a.m. opening game at the Tianjin Gym on Aug. 6. RP takes on Japan at 9 p.m. the next day, then goes up against Korea also at 9 p.m. on Aug. 8.