National basketball coach Yeng Guiao said the RP squad, which is eying a spot in the 2010 World Championship, will be looking at the results of their upcoming games as the best measure of the team's preparedness.

“The only time we can measure kung ano talaga ang status ng team in terms of cohesion, their chemistry, their understanding and absorption of the system, is when we compete,” said Guiao during this week’s PSA Forum at the Shakey’s UN Avenue branch in Manila.

And compete they will.

Coming to Manila this April to help the nationals measure their progress is the 10-man Sydney Spirit team, led by former NBA Most Valuable Player Jason Smith.

Late in April, the import-reinforced North and South teams will also test the RP squad’s mettle in the PBA All-Star weekend.

The Lebanon basketball team might also pass by to play with the nationals.

When asked to gauge the RP team, also dubbed as Team Pilipinas, Guiao said he can’t do that just yet.

“Out of 10, kung hindi pa kami nag-cocompete, baka sabihin ko nasa 7 or 8 na kami,” he said. “Pero pag nagcompete na kami, baka sabihin ko nasa 5 or 6 pa lang kami.”

Guiao said, given the chance, he will be seeking for more international exposure. However, he said the team will have to work it out with what they have.

“Sabi ko nga, we need to be exposed to the international brand of play but we also have to work within our limitations,” he said.

In preparing for the tune-up games, Guiao said they are maximizing whatever free time they can get.

“Ire-request namin that as soon as we get a break [from PBA], aaraw-arawin namin [ang practice]… Right now, we’re practicing once a week, yung nagbreak ang PBA, meron kaming twice or thrice a week,” he said.

Team Pilipinas will compete at the Southeast Asian Basketball Association in June for a ticket to FIBA-Asia. They will also compete in the Jones Cup in Taipei the following month.