If it were up to Senator Sonny Angara and Congressman Robbie Puno, we would have NBA-caliber practice players.
"There is an urgent need to have a pool of naturalized players along with Marcus Douthit to increase the team's over-all capability and as back up in case of injuries," said Angara in the explanatory notes of Senate Bills 2107 and 2108, to grant Filipino citizenship to JaVale McGee and Andray Blatche, respectively.
The same sentiments are echoed in Puno's filings in the lower house:
"We need to naturalize at least two players to avoid jeopardizing the entire basketball program in the event of an injury to any one of our naturalized players. Also, the addition of another player will contribute to effective team development. The two naturalized athletes would practice against each other and serve as back-up players to one another."
With Marcus Douthit remaining healthy and the legislature staying strict in granting citizenship, the possibility of passing these bills by July 30, when the 24-man line up for the 2014 FIBA World Championship is due, appear slim.
Granting Filipino citizenship through legislation is not an easy task. Of the 13 bills of such nature filed in the previous congress, only one was enacted into law. Republic Act 10148 granted Gilas big man Marcus Douthit Philippine citizenship.
A similar bill filed in the 15th Congress, House Bill 2683, was supposed to grant citizenship to six-foot-three women's basketball player Xiaojing Zheng. It passed in the lower house but languished in the senate.
Other bills involving long-time residents of the Philippines, ranging from businessmen to doctors, lawyers, priests, and even philanthropists never made it as well. Only one bill made it past both the lower and upper house. It was ultimately vetoed by the president.
Conferring citizenship is a privilege not afforded to all. Congressman Al Francis Bichara previously filed House Bill 6715 to grant Filipino citizenship to Wassim Nanaa. Nanaa is the honorary Consul General of the Philippines in Syria. Just last January, President Benigno S. Aquino III conferred the Order of Sikatuna to Nanaa for protecting the welfare of overseas Filipino workers in Syria.
Nanaa now joins former US president Dwight Eisenhower, King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon and Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao as awardees. Nanaa's citizenship did not even make it past the Congress' committee level.
From now until July, it's a race against time for Puno in the lower house.
"Kailangan natin ikutan yung mga adjournment ng congress," added Puno in an interview with Spin.ph. The congress will take a break from March 14 to May 4, further trimming the time to get things going. Puno added that they set the record with the fastest approval for citizenship with Douthit at seven months.
This time, they plan to do it in a bit over one:
"Kailangan kong ma-approve sa congress by March 14 and that would give the senate time to approve their counterpart bill [the Angara bill] between May 5 and June 13."
Puno also has to get the support of Congress' Justice committee and House Speaker Sonny Belmonte, Jr.
The elder Belmonte took convincing the last time around, when it was Douthit's naturalization on the table. "Critical yung suporta ni Speaker [Belmonte] kasi pag sumuporta si Speaker, lahat sasabay," said Puno. With FIBA allowing only one naturalized player to suit up, Belmonte may need even more convincing now that Puno is asking for a "pool" of naturalized players, especially when it seems that players may be granted citizenship even if they will not be able to play.
"Baka hindi rin umabot [si McGee] but he's our first choice," Puno added. "Pinakiusap ni Chot [Reyes] sakin kung pwedeng dalawahin na natin subukan i-naturalize."
Douthit will be 34 years old when the team goes to Spain. Blatche will be 28, while McGee will be 26. Interestingly, the lawmakers pushed through with the filing for McGee, even if it's uncertain that he will be serviceable in time for August.
The Denver Nuggets big man has been undergoing bone stimulation therapy to repair his fractured leg, but most recent reports indicate that he will be out for the rest of the current NBA Season. Adding physical therapy, the possibility of McGee being a hundred-percent fit for Spain is unknown.
Source; gmanews.tv
Brooklyn Nets’ Andray Blatche says he looks forward to representing the Philippines in the 2014 FIBA World Basketball Cup.
Although he admitted not knowing anything about the naturalization process in the Philippines, he said he is “cool with it.”
“I’m not too quite sure about anything about it,” he said in a New York Times report. “They brought it to my attention, and I was like, ‘Yeah, that sounds cool.’ ”
Blatche said playing for the Philippines could widen his network and take him to places where he has never been before.
He added that the FIBA World, which runs from August to September, will also be helpful for his preparations for the next NBA season.
“I’m looking at it from the standpoint that I can go where I’ve never been before,” said Blatche, “and also it’ll give me an early head start to get ready for training camp and for the season.”
According to the New York Times, Blatche has been a big contributor for the Nets, where he averages 12.1 points and 6.0 rebounds per game.
Blatche is one of the two NBA players being eyed for naturalization for Gilas Pilipinas.
Antipolo Rep. Roberto Puno has filed two bills to start the naturalization process of Blatche and Denver Nuggets’ Javale McGee.
The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) is hoping to use either Blatche or Javale to improve Gilas Pilipinas' chances in the FIBA Worlds.
Gilas Pilipinas is likely to meet a familiar face at the 2014 FIBA World Basketball Cup this August.
Renaldo Balkman, who played for Petron Blaze in the PBA, is one of the mainstays of the Puerto Rican national basketball team which belongs to the same grouping with Gilas in the FIBA Worlds.
The 6-foot-8 import achieved notoriety during the 2013 PBA Commissioner’s Cup, which resulted in his lifetime ban from the league.
While averaging 25 points and 13 rebounds per game with the Boosters, Balkman, who was having an off night against the Alaska Aces, protested a call and ended up grabbing Arwind Santos’ neck.
Balkman has since apologized for his actions.
Puerto Rico, ranked No. 19 in the world, qualified for the FIBA Worlds after finishing second in the 2013 FIBA Americas.
It is not certain, however, if Balkman will be included in their team’s final lineup for the FIBA World Cup.
Also included in their group are second-ranked Argentina, which boasts of NBA players Luis Scola and Manu Ginobili, fifth-ranked Greece, Croatia (16th) and Senegal (41st).
Source: abs-cbnnews.com
Basketball world champions the United States were drawn in a group also containing the team they beat in the 2010 final Turkey, when the draw was made in Barcelona, Spain, on Monday (early Tuesday, PHL time).
The Americans were drawn in Group C along with the Turks as well as New Zealand, Ukraine, Dominican Republic and Finland for the tournament which is being hosted by Spain and runs from August 30 to September 14 (August 31-September 15, PHL time).
The potential opponents for the Americans in the last 16 - the top four in each group progress to the knockout rounds - if they top it will come from Group D which notably includes Slovenia, Australia and beaten European championship finalists Lithuania.
France, who beat Lithuania in the European final last year, are in Group A along with amongst others Spain, Serbia and Brazil.
Meanwhile the Philippine national team, also known as Gilas, drew a difficult group, containing second and third-placers Puerto Rico and Argentina, respectively, from the Americas region, Africa third-placers Senegal, Europe fourth placers Croatia, plus wildcard Greece.
The tournament will take place in six cities: Madrid, Barcelona, Sevilla, Bilbao, Gran Canaria and Granada.
Groups:
Gp A (at Granada): Spain, Serbia, France, Brazil, Egypt, Iran
Gp B (at Sevilla): Philippines, Senegal, Puerto Rico, Argentina, Greece, Croatia
Gp C (at Bilbao): Dominican Republic, Turkey, United States, Finland, New Zealand, Ukraine
Gp D (at Gran Canaria): Slovenia, Lithuania, Angola, South Korea, Mexico, Australia
Source: gmanews.tv
1. Argentina
FIBA Ranking: No. 3
Argentina qualified for the 2013 FIBA Basketball World Cup after finishing third in the 2013 FIBA Americas Championship.
Among the players to watch out are Indiana Pacers power forward Luis Scola and San Antonio Spurs vet Manu Ginobili. Scola, who was with the NBA’s 2008 Rookie First Team, averages 13.6 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. Ginobili, on the other hand, tallies 14.7 points and 4.0 assists per game.
Among the team's recent accomplishments are: a gold medal at the 2008 FIBA Diamond Ball, a bronze-medal finish at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and a gold-medal win at the 2011 FIBA Americas Championship.
Possible lineup:
Juan Pedro Gutiérrez
Luis Scola
Andrés Nocioni
Manu Ginóbili
Pablo Prigioni
Martín Leiva
Leonardo Gutiérrez
Hernán Jasen
Carlos Delfino
Facundo Campazzo
Federico Kammerichs
Marcos Mata
2. Senegal
FIBA Ranking: No. 37
Senegal nabbed a qualification for the 2014 FIBA World Cup when it won bronze at the 2013 FIBA Africa Championship.
The team is a five-time gold medalist (in 1968, 1972, 1978, 1980, and 1997), a six-time silver medalist, and a thrice bronze medalist at the FIBA Africa Championship. Senegal was also the first Sub-Saharan African team to qualify for the Summer Olympic Games.
Senegal has 7-foot-tall center Hamady N'Diaye, who was formerly with the Washington Wizards. He now plays for the Delaware 87ers in the NBA D-League. The team also has defensive specialist Mouhamed Saer Sene, who boasts of a 7-foot-8.5 wingspan. Sene had stints with the Seattle Supersonics, Oklahoma City Thunder and the New York Knicks.
Possible lineup
El Hadji Malick Ndiaye
Louis Adams
Ibrahima Thomas
Mamadou Ndoye
Mohamed Diop
Maleye Ndoye
Ibrahima Mbengue
Mouhammad Faye
Pape Malick Gadiaga
Hamady N'Diaye
Mouhamed Sene
Abdou Badji
3. Puerto Rico
FIBA Ranking: No. 19
Puerto Rico qualified the FIBA Worlds by virtue of its second-place finish at the 2013 FIBA Americas Championship.
It also has participated in all of the FIBA Americas Championships and has gone all the way to the semifinals in all but the 1984 and 2005 tournaments for a total of nine medals.
Puerto Rico has NBA point guards JJ Barea and Carlos Arroyo. Barea currently plays for the Minnesota Timberwolves, while Arroyo was with the Miami heat and the Boston Celtics. It also boasts of 7-foot-3 center Peter Ramos, formerly of the Washington Wizards.
Possible lineup
Ramon Clemente
José Juan Barea
John Holland
Carlos Arroyo
Andrés Rodríguez
Richard Chaney
Elías Larry Ayuso
Ricky Sánchez
Luis Villafañe
Renaldo Balkman
Alex Galindo
Daniel Santiago
4. Croatia
FIBA Ranking: No. 16
Croatia finished third behind France and Lithuania at FIBA EuroBasket 2013 to gain a seat in the FIBA Worlds.
It has a rich basketball tradition, with several of its members ending up at the the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Among its legends who made into the list are Krešimir Ćosić, Dražen Petrović, and Mirko Novosel. The biggest success Croatia has achieved was at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics when the team reached the finals against the US Dream Team and won the silver.
Croatia has at its disposal the services of 6-foot-5 point guard Roko Ukić, formerly of the Toronto Raptors and the Milwaukee Bucks, and power forward Damir Markota, who had playing stint with the Milwaukee Bucks.
Possible lineup
Ante Tomić
Damir Markota
Bojan Bogdanović
Krunoslav Simon
Roko Ukić
Luka Žorić
Dario Šarić
Damjan Rudež
Ante Delaš
Dontaye Draper
Lukša Andrić
Mario Delaš
5. Greece
FIBA Ranking: No. 5
Greece, traditionally considered among the world's top basketball powers, acquired a wild card to join the FIBA World Cup.
Greece’s most remarkable achievement was its runner-up finish at the 2006 FIBA World Championship, after beating the 2006 Team USA of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Chris Paul, Dwight Howard and Carmelo Anthony in the semis.
Despite an impressive win against the defending champion Spain in Eurobasket 2013, it lost crucial games and failed to reach the quarterfinals for the first time since 2001. Among its prized players are 7-foot center Kosta Koufos of the Memphis Grizzlies, Memphis Grizzlies point guard Nick Calathes and Milwaukee Bucks shooting guard Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Possible lineup
Kosta Koufos
Giorgos Printezis
Kostas Papanikolaou
Vassilis Spanoulis
Nick Calathes
Loannis Bourousis
Kostas Kaimakoglou
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Michael Bramos
Vangelis Mantzaris
Sofoklis Schortsanitis
Antonis Fotsis
Stratos Perperoglou
Nikos Zisis
Kostas Sloukas
Source: abs-cbnnews.com
Source: Manila Bulletin
-- Four players, led by former Most Valuable Player James Yap of B-Meg, have yet to commit themselves to the Smart-Gilas II national team, a week after the deadline has elapsed, according to team manager Butch Antonio.
“If anything, it only shows that the four are disinterested,” said Antonio during a phone interview Wednesday.
Aside from Yap, the other players are Arwind Santos and Alex Cabagnot of Petron and Mark Pingris of B-Meg.
Antonio said he had a chance meeting with Yap who told him to talk to B-Meg governor Rene de Pardo.
When consulted, Pardo told Antonio to course the letters through the PBA Commissioner’s Office.
On March 27, the PBA board of governors has agreed to lend up to 20 players for the Gilas II national pool.
“We would like to stress that players are not forced to play for Gilas. It is purely voluntary, if they don’t want to play, we cannot do anything,” Antonio said.
Twelve of the 16 players named by national coach Chot Reyes have already signed the commitment letters.
They are Enrico Villanueva of Barangay Ginebra, Jimmy Alapag, Jayson Castro, Kelly Williams, Ranidel de Ocampo, Larry Fonacier and Ryan Reyes of Talk ‘N Text, Gary David and Marcio Lassiter of Powerade, LA Tenorio and Sonny Thoss of Alaska and Gabe Norwood of Rain or Shine.
Part of the players’ commitment is to devote full time and effort to Smart Gilas in the off-season until the FIBA-Asia Championships in September, 2013 and even possibly the FIBA World Championships in September, 2014.
Villanueva was first to sign the commitment letter on March 29 followed by Norwood the next day. Tenorio signed on March 31.
The national team was set to meet for the first time last Monday, but was reset because of the ongoing PBA semifinal playoffs.
If the four players beg off, Antonio said they may have to look for other players to fill their spots.
“I understand the PBA has given us up to 20 players. It’s up to coach Chot if he wants to increase the pool of players,” Antonio said.
Source: Mico Halili, GMA News
In a tournament dominated by elephants like Yi Jianlian, Hamed Hadadi, Ha Seung Jin and Joji Takeuchi, little Jimmy Alapag squeaked his way over, under and around taller defenders to be an end-game star. While Marcus Douthit, unmindful of his sprained ankle, tallied 25 points, 18 rebounds and three blocks, Alapag's performance against Japan likewise stood out. The Japanese can blame Marcus for losing to Gilas. They can also blame The Mouse.
People question a player's abilities. The player has no choice but to take it all in. Bakit siya ang PBA MVP? He's too old for Gilas. Why him? He can't play defense. Isn't he too small? I can name 10 players, based on statistics from the last PBA season, who can score more points, grab more rebounds and make more assists than Jimmy Alapag. I'm sure you can too. Redemption has no clock. A player can wait weeks, months, years before bouncing back from criticism. Redemption can also happen in a flash, as soon as a player is ready. Alapag, you see, is always ready.
"I'm just here to do whatever is needed for the team to win," Alapag shared after he scored 15 points including three three-point shots against Japan. "The guys have worked so hard the last few years! We have a great chance."
People I know, men with unquestionable character, say Alapag, as far as they know, has unquestionable character. You can go by what they know or simply go by what you see. There's Jimmy with a nice pass to Kelly Williams. There's Jimmy with a booming triple. There's Jimmy driving into the lane for a layup. There's Jimmy with three crucial free throws to seal the game. It made us forget about Jimmy's MVP season of 2011. It made us remember his gutsy performance in the FIBA-Asia tournament of 2007.
"This experience is very different from 2007," Alapag admitted. "Different coach, system, and lineup, but both very good teams. I just wish we had Douthit in '07."
Team Pilipinas didn't have Douthit then. Gilas has Jimmy now. I don't think Alapag wants to prove anything in Wuhan: that he deserves the PBA MVP trophy, or a spot in Gilas, or a place in the Philippines Basketball Hall-of-Fame, or our elusive admiration. Besides, we've seen this before. When the game is on the line, dikdikan ang laban, Jimmy wants to make the big pass, the winning play, the crucial shot. He's willing to be The Big Cheese.
"I just try my best to help the Gilas guys on and off the court," Alapag said. "Any situation I see where I can be of help, I try my best to show them. They're great guys and the country should be proud of how hard they've fought the last three years."
The Mighty Mouse was not a unanimous PBA MVP. But against Japan, he was certainly a FIBA-Asia winner. Ateneo Assistant Coach Sandy Arespacochaga said it best, "Ang Japan dinaga."
Source: Joaquin Henson, Philippine Star
Manila, Philippines - A decision will be made tomorrow as to whether the Smart Gilas national team will play in the PBA Governors Cup and from all indications, it appears the squad will see action in no-bearing games only up the end of the single-round eliminations.
PBA commissioner Chito Salud confirmed the other day that the league has set a deadline of April 13 for Gilas to decide. The same deadline will apply for Toroman to submit a “wish list” of PBA players reinforcing the national team at the FIBA-Asia Championships in Wuhan, China, on Sept. 15-25.
Salud had earlier extended an “open invitation” for Gilas to play in the third conference which opens with two games in Dubai on June 2. The Governors Cup will begin its Manila schedule with a triplebill on June 8. The tournament will end Aug. 19 at the latest. The PBA draft is set Aug. 28.
A Gilas insider said two meetings were held last week to discuss the possibility of playing in the Governors Cup. Team owner Manny V. Pangilinan reportedly presided in the discussions that involved PBA governor Ricky Vargas, PBA alternate governor Patrick Gregorio, team manager Frankie Lim and Toroman.
The insider said it was not settled which PBA players to draft for the FIBA-Asia Championships. Toroman previously announced a wish list of 10 players – Kelly Williams, Ranidel de Ocampo, Jimmy Alapag, Ryan Reyes, Asi Taulava, James Yap, Arwind Santos, Joe De Vance, Sonny Thoss and Jay Washington.
“It’s possible only three PBA players will be added to the lineup,” said the insider. “Dondon Hontiveros’ name came up in late discussions. But if only three players are to be requested from the PBA, they will probably be Williams, Alapag and Taulava.” Regarding Gilas’ participation in the Governors Cup, the insider said it was 50-50.
Salud said he was told that the inclination is for Gilas to play only up to the end of the eliminations in the Governors Cup to allow for participation in the Jones Cup in Taipei in August. That means the team will play no-bearing games with its PBA reinforcements. Salud also mentioned that with Gilas’ success in the Commissioner’s Cup, it’s likely Toroman will request less than five PBA players to beef up the roster.
Gilas is safely in the Commissioner’s Cup semifinals where the national team will face the winner of the Barangay Ginebra-Rain Or Shine quarterfinal series. The problem is naturalized player Marcus Douthit is down for at least two weeks with a possible fracture in the right hand. Douthit injured the hand during the first quarter of Gilas’ overtime loss to Meralco in Tacloban last April 2. The hand isn’t in a cast but Lim said Douthit has been advised to rest until the injury heals.
Toroman said Douthit will be reevaluated this coming week but at the moment, he’s not practicing with the team. As to Gilas’ participation in the Governors Cup, Toroman said nothing is final, not even the list of PBA reinforcements, but promised a decision by tomorrow.
Because of the hand injury, Douthit may miss up to the first three games of the best-of-five semifinals, giving either Barangay Ginebra or Rain Or Shine a huge lift.
The Governors Cup will set height limits for imports depending on how the PBA teams performed in the first and second conference eliminations, using a weighted average of 60 percent for the Philippine Cup and 40 percent for the Commissioner’s Cup. San Miguel Beer, Barangay Ginebra, B-Meg and Talk ‘N’ Text will be allowed to recruit an import with a height limit of 6-2. Alaska, Air21, Meralco and Rain Or Shine will be allowed a limit of 6-4 while Powerade and Barako Bull, if it reactivates, a ceiling of 6-6.
The Governors Cup will start with a single-round elimination after which the top six finishers advance to play in the single-round semifinals carrying over their records. The top two semifinal placers advance to battle in a best-of-7 finals. A team that wins four of five semifinal games but fails to land in the top two because of a poor carryover record will gain a playoff for a finals slot against the No. 2 finisher.
If Gilas decides to play in the Governors Cup until the end of the eliminations, it will gain valuable experience generating chemistry with the holdovers and the PBA recruits moving towards the Jones Cup and eventually, the FIBA-Asia Championships.
Source: Waylon Galvez, Manila Bulletin
MANILA, Philippines – There will be five PBA players in the Smart-Gilas national basketball team for the Olympic qualifier FIBA-Asia Championship in September in Wuhan, China.
The board gave the go-signal in a recent meeting and PBA Commissioner Angelico “Chito” Salud relayed the decision to newly appointed Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) Executive Director Renauld “Sonny” Barrios when the two met last Monday.
“The commissioner told me that the (PBA) board has approved already the lending of five PBA players to Smart-Gilas,” the 63-year-old Barrios said Tuesday in the PSA Forum held at the Shakey’s Restaurant in UN Avenue, Manila.
“However, there’s no formal identity yet on who those five players will be,” said Barrios, the PBA commissioner whom Salud succeeded some months ago.
In last year’s Asian Games, the PBA allowed three of its players – Asi Taulava, Kelly Williams and Sol Mercado – to reinforce the national team.
This time, the number has increased, and sources said that the 6-foot-9 Taulava and 6-foot-7 Williams are in the radar anew of Smart-Gilas Serbian head coach Rajko Toroman. Also reportedly being considered are former RP team players James Yap, Ranidel de Ocampo, Ryan Reyes and Jimmy Alapag.
Toroman welcomes the board decision to lend a maximum of five players, though he mentioned that they will assess if they really need five and who to get as reinforcement after the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
“We’ll discuss that after our PBA participation. We still have to evaluate things,” said Toroman in a separate interview.
Nevertheless, Barrios said that the PBA decision is a good development.
What concerns Barrios is the country’s hosting of the FIBA-Asia Champions’ Cup, which will be held from May 28 to June 5 at the PhilSports Arena (formerly ULTRA) with an expected participation of 10 teams, including nine foreign squads.
“We have no choice but to do a good job,” Barrios said.
“When we host an event, it’s not just the face of the people organizing the event which is at stake, not the face of the association. Ang naka-taya dito mukha ng bayan natin. So we have to do a good job,” Barrios added.
Meralco Bolts gave the National team Smart Gilas a second lost in this conference, with the score of (91 - 87 OT) which needed few more minutes to decide the winner...
Source: GMA News
Marcus Douthit capped his return to active roster with a 30-point, 17-rebound effort and powering Smart Gilas past Barangay Ginebra, 111-104, to clinch the first outright semifinals seat in the PBA Commissioner's Cup Wednesday night at the Araneta Coliseum.
Missed the last time after suffering a sprained left ankle in the Nationals' 90-98 defeat to Derby Ace, Douthit readily made his presence felt behind those huge numbers and was responsible for two key plays down the stretch that decided the outcome of the match Smart Gilas led from start to finish.
The 6-foot-11 center completed a three-point play off a follow-up miss by Japeth Aguilar from three-point land, extending a six-point lead to 89-80.
Then, he made an emphatic follow-up slam off another three-point miss by Mac Baracael for a 103-95 Smart Gilas edge in the final 58 seconds.
"To be in the semi-finals is great for us. Probably nobody expected we can play at that level. We played a great game," said Nationals' coach Rajko Toroman. “I think we showed that this team has character in difficult moments. We plated an amazing defense in the first half and we were aggressive.
Marcio Lassiter backed up Douthit with 21 points on 3-of-4 shooting from three-point range, while JV Casio added 16 and Chris Lutz 15 as the three more than made up for the absence of team captain Chris Tiu, out with a left shoulder injury.
"For now, we want to improve more on our confidence going into the FIBA-Asia Championships (in September) and in the Champions’ Cup (in May)." Added Toroman.
Import Nate Brumfield, Willie Miller and Mark Caguioa finished with 21 points each, but not enough to save the day for Ginebra, which saw its four-game winning run came to an end.
The Kings fell to 5-3, but still have a good chance of making the playoffs.
Rookie Rob Labagala made his pro debut and finished with eight points for the Kings, who also got 10 points and 10 rebounds from Rudy Hatfield. Douthit was 12-of-20 from the field, 6-of-8 from the free-throw line and also had five assists and two block shots for the Nationals, who led by as many as 79-60 on a three-point play by Aguilar in the third period.
The Kings however, trimmed down the gap to 79-69 behind a 10-0 run just before the quarter ended.
They eventually cut the deficit to within five, but the Nationals always had a ready answer for them.
The Nationals fired 13 three-point shots out of 23 attempts, and waxed hot behind a 52.7 percent shooting from the field on 40 of 76 tries.
Source: GMA News
GUANGZHOU, China – With the 2012 London Olympics qualifier just nine months away, Philippines-Smart Gilas head coach Rajko Toroman isn’t pressing the panic button. Not just yet.
Though admitting that he was disappointed that the PHL 5 did not make it to the semifinal round of the 16th Asian Games, the Serbian tactician said the team just needs more finetuning to be able to compete with the heavyweights in the continent.
“It’s a pity that we didn’t make it well here, but with some adjustments we will try to make, we will be very competitive," said Toroman.
“Imagine, Qatar lost by five points to China and we beat Qatar. That means we reached that tactical level that we can beat everybody. It’s really a pity our quality team was just playing for fifth place," he added.
The Philippines scored a 90-68 rout of Qatar in the preliminary round but eventually suffered a 71-81 loss during their battle for fifth and sixth places.
Toroman said the team will be formidable once naturalized player Marcus Douthit, who is expected to lead the country’s campaign in international tournaments next year, gets his Philippine passport.
Douthit’s papers were not processed in time for the Asian Games. “Our adjustments will start with Marcus," said Toroman.
This is the first Asiad that the Philippines failed to reach the semifinal round since 1978.
Though Gilas’ program is really meant for the 2011 International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Asia Championship, the qualifying event for the London Games, Toroman knew his team could have performed better in the 16th Asiad.
“We just didn’t have the luck. In our game against South Korea, our wing players (Marcio Lassiter, Chris Tiu and Mac Baracael) were 2-of-20. Imagine, if we could have made those shots," he said.
When asked if he will be adding more PBA players for the FIBA Asia qualifier, Toroman said, “We can’t give some answers now."
In this campaign, the PBA lent Asi Taulava, Kelly Williams and Solomon Mercado to beef up the young Gilas squad.
Source: GMA News
GUANGZHOU -- The Pilipinas-Smart Gilas national developmental team made it to the quarterfinal round of the 16th Asian Games basketball competition.
The Filipinos advanced into the next round following a hard-earned 82-73 triumph against Chinese Taipei.
The PHL 5 will face South Korea in the quarterfinals starting Wednesday.
Asi Taulava, the oldest player in the Smart-Gilas line-up, teamed up with Marcio Lassiter to give the Taiwanese a double-barrelled headache.
Taulava and Lassiter finished with 18 points each to lead the Filipinos to their third victory against two defeats.
The 6-foot-9, 37-year-old Fil-Tongan also grabbed 12 rebounds in what was easily his most productive game since he joined the team several weeks ago.
Lassiter, a last-minute inclusion, drilled in three triples, the same as team co-captain Chris Tiu.
Tiu tallied 15 points and Mac Baracael contributed 11 for the Filipinos, who won despite being beaten by the Taiwanese on second chance points (18-6) and points inside the paint (48-38).
Source: ABS-CBN News
MANILA, Philippines - The Gilas Philippine basketball team breezed past India Sunday night in the group round, 78-57, in the Asian Games in China.
With the win, the nationals improved their record to 2-2 heading into Monday night's clash with Chinese-Taipei.
It's a must win game for Team Philippines, as a victory will guarantee them entry to the quarterfinals.
Meanwhile, Team Philippines has yet to make any headway in the Guangzhou Asian Games.
The national team is stuck at 2 golds with 2 silvers and 8 bronzes, currently good for 16th place.
After 9 days of competition, host China is still dominating the field with 146 golds, 71 silvers and 70 bronzes.
South Korea is in second followed by Japan, Iran and Hong Kong.
Source: Nelson Beltran, Philippine Star
GUANGZHOU – Asi Taulava has been defying Father Time, proving to be a huge presence for Smart Gilas Team Pilipinas in its campaign in the XVI Asian Games here. Taulava relishes his Asiad stint and shows admirable traits that make him positive influence to the young members of the Smart Gilas Phl.
“The best to put it is that he’s in his elements here,” said Smart Gilas assistant coach Chot Reyes.
“He loves to be with the national team and he’s really admirable as he’s coming out and working hard to put in his share at 37,” Reyes added.
Reyes said Taulava is the team’s spiritual leader who is unselfish and vocal, sharing wisdom and knowledge to his teammates.
He’s also ready to hear criticisms.”He played bad against Iran and it was a big blow on us. He only got one rebound and didn’t make good use of his fouls. We told him we didn’t feel his presence, and he took it to heart,” said Reyes.
“In the next game, he was very aggressive, providing massive screens and banging his body with the opponents. He showed his leadership,” Reyes added.
Taulava has assumed a big task in the team after the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas failed to work on Marcus Douthit’s naturalization papers in time for the Asiad.
“He’s supposed to be just Marcus’ back-up. Suddenly, he’s to play a lead role. He’s now playing lots of minutes and he has no other choice,” said Reyes.
On Wednesday, the Meralco Bolts main frontline player came through with 10 points and eight rebounds, helping Smart Gilas to a 90-68 rout of Qatar.
He’s also helping the progress of seven-foot reserve center Greg Slaughter.
“Asi made it a point to have Greg as his roommate, and he’s a positive influence on Greg,” said Reyes, noting the good showing by the young center versus the Qataris.
Before they left for China, Taulava said he wants to make the most of his Guangzhou stint, aware he’s not getting younger and this may be his last tour of duty with the Phl team. He’s played in one Asian Games and two FIBA Asia championships but has yet to win a medal of any color.
He’s aching to nail one here.
Source: AFP,
GUANGZHOU, China -- Japan knocked off the Philippines, 60-58, to bring its Asian Games basketball win streak to 3 and remain on top of Group F on Friday.
The Japanese led for much of the game taking a 48-43 lead into the final quarter before the Filipinos came charging back while holding Japan to 3 points in the game's last 5 minutes.
Japan was led by Takumi Ishizaki with 16 points, while Marcio Lassiter had 13 for the losers.
South Korea, meanwhile, demolished its northern counterpart, 96-66, to remain unbeaten in Group E play along with rivals China which defeated hapless Uzbekistan 91-31.
The South Koreans were led by American-born Lee Seung-Jun with 23 points and seven rebounds, while Cho Sung-Min hit four three pointers and scored 15 points to help his team to their third consecutive win before nearly 16,000 fans.
North Korea, which fell behind 27-12 at the end of the first quarter and at one time was behind by 37 points, was led by Pak Un Chol with 20 points.
In China's match with Uzbekistan, the hosts were led by shooting guard Wang Shipeng with 20 points, while former Dallas Maverick centre Wang Zhizhi chipped in 18 points.
"I just thought it was a game where we were physically superior," said China's American coach Bob Donewald.
"If you look at it, they (Uzbekistan) scored a third of their points in the first five minutes of the game. I think we played good defense the rest of the way."
On Saturday, reigning Asian Games holders China will face 2002 Asiad champs South Korea in a battle between unbeaten teams.
In the other Group E match, Jordan beat Mongolia 79-64.
"We did not prepare specially for the game against China," said South Korea coach Yoo Jaehak. "The most important thing by far is being qualified for the quarter-finals."
In other Group F games, Qatar eked out a close win over Taiwan 72-70, while two-time defending Asian champions Iran dispatched India 78-63.
Source: GMA News
GUANGZHOU -- Smart Gilas national developmental team coach Rajko Toroman is confident his team can advance to the main draw of the men’s basketball competition of the 16th Asian Games at Guangti gymnasium here.
"We're doing good," said Toroman after the team held private practice near the East Railway Station here. "The players are doing good except for Japeth, who still has a knee injury."
The Philippines opens its campaign against Kuwait at 7:15 p.m. Saturday with the winner advancing to Group F. The group has a strong cast that includes two-time and reigning FIBA Asia champion Iran, Qatar, Japan, Chinese Taipei, and the winner between Afghanistan and India.
The national developmental squad played a pair of tune-up games a few days after arriving here.
The team bowed to the Guangdong Tigers, a three-time champion in the Chinese Basketball Association, 73-85. The Chinese club team was backstopped by former Indiana Pacers shooting guard Fred Jones.
But the Filipino cagers bounced back in their second exhibition game, and beat the Dongguan Leopards, 79-65.
The team played with a complete line-up against the Leopards, with the PBA stars leading the way to victory.
Kelly Williams, who played for the all-pro national team in the 2007 FIBA Asia Championship, finished with 18 points and nine boards.
Asi Taulava, who will be playing in his second Asian Games after suiting up in the 2002 edition in Busan, South Korea, finished with 15 points and the same number of rebounds.
Solomon Mercado, who sat out the game against the Tigers, played 20 minutes and did pretty well despite a sprained left ankle.
"Sol is doing good, but we hope Japeth can also play on Sunday," said Toroman, who was responsible in leading Iran to its first Olympics appearance in 2008 in Beijing, China after leading the squad in winning the 2007 FIBA Asia crown.
Should the Filipinos hurdle the Kuwaitis, they will face the Iranians bolstered by NBA slotman Hamed Haddadi on Nov. 16, the Qataris the following day, the Japanese on Nov. 19 and the winner between India and Afghanistan on Nov. 21.
Only the top four teams in each group will advance to the crossover knockout quarterfinal stage.
Last Thursday, UAAP MVP Dylan Ababou and FEU standout Aldrech Ramos were relegated to the reserve list by the coaching staff after the managers' meeting.
Other members of the squad are team captain Chris Tiu, Mark Barroca, JV Casio, Mac Baracael, Greg Slaughter, Jason Ballesteros, Chris Lutz and Marcio Lassiter.
Source: GMA News
-- Uncertain to join the Smart Gilas national developmental team in the Guangzhou Asian Games at the last minute, Marcus Douthit will be allowed to backstop the country in other major Asian basketball tournaments, including the Olympic qualifying FIBA Asia Championship next year.
The former Los Angeles Lakers draftee was granted Filipino citizenship by the Senate during Monday's session.
The Senate approved on third and final reading the bills 138 and 2559, which will provide Philippine citizenship to the American import Douthit.
All 13 senators present voted in favor of passing the bills.
Douthit is the fourth import to become a candidate for naturalization, after CJ Giles, Jamal Sampson, and Serbian Milan Vucicevic.
The 6-foot-11 American isn’t the first foreign player to be given Philippine citizenship.
Americans Arthur "Chip" Engelland, Jeff Moore and Dennis Still were naturalized in the 1980s to help the Philippine men’s basketball team to win the Asian Basketball Confederation (now FIBA Asia Championship) crown in 1985.
Bad news for PHL cagers
The Senate’s approval of Douthit’s Philippine citizenship was indeed a welcome development for Philippine basketball.
But there’s also some bad news.
Sol Mercado, one of three professional players loaned by the PBA to the Smart Gilas national developmental team, hurt his foot during Rain or Shine’s last game against San Miguel Beer.
Smart Gilas-PHL team coach Rajko Toroman expressed concern over the health status of the spitfire guard.
The national developmental team members who were initially listed among the final 12 were Asi Taulava and Kelly Williams — the two other players loaned by the PBA to the squad — team captain Chris Tiu, Mark Barroca, Mac Baracael, JV Casio, Dylan Ababou, Japeth Aguilar, Greg Slaughter, Jason Ballesteros, Marcio Lassiter and Aldrech Ramos.
“We will evaluate him (Sol). We will know if he can still help us in the Asian Games, and if not, we have to make a decision on Thursday during the manager’s meeting and make some changes in our line-up," Toroman told GMANews.TV in a telephone interview.
Mercado and another Fil-Am, Chris Lutz, were granted late accreditation by the Asian Games Committee.
The national developmental squad leaves Tuesday for China, where they will play two club teams.
Toroman said that Hamed Haddadi, the 7-foot-4 center of Iran playing for the Memphis Grizzlies in the NBA, might suit up for the reigning two-time FIBA Asia champions.
“It’s still not confirmed yet, but the president of Iran went to the US and reportedly talked to the Grizzlies. Hammed has not played in the Grizzlies’ last two games, and that might be a sign he will play for Iran in the Asian Games," said Toroman.
Source: Joey Villar, Philippine Star
MANILA, Philippines - Asi Taulava, Kelly Williams and Sol Mercado take their leave from their respective mother clubs beginning today to join the Smart Gilas squad in the final days of its preparations for the Asian Games.
“We’re very thankful to their PBA teams for allowing them to take a leave and help us in our Asian Games campaign,” said Smart Gilas coach Rajko Toroman. “We’re excited to have them because they can help us with their experience.”
Taulava, Williams and Mercado had actually been training with the team for two months now although they show up just once or twice a week owing to their commitment to their respective mother teams.
The 6-9 Taulava even played for Smart Gilas in the FIBA Stankovic Cup in Beirut, Lebanon where the Filipinos wound up fourth despite fielding in a depleted roster.
Talk n Text coach Chot Reyes will also join the team as consultant.
Reyes and Williams, a former PBA MVP, will miss two games for the Phone Pals, so do Mercado and Taulava for the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters and the Meralco Bolts, respectively.
The 37-year-old Taulava also saw action for the Nationals in the Asian Games in 2002 in Busan, Korea while Williams and Mercado are seeing action in the quadrennial event for the first time.
Mercado’s stint, as well as that of fellow Fil-Am Chris Lutz, remains unsure since their Asiad accreditation will only be decided upon by the GAGOC (Guangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee) today.
“We’re still awaiting their decision but we’re confident they would allow them (Mercado and Lutz) to play,” said Toroman.
He said he would only announce the 12-man roster in Guangzhou on Nov. 10.
“Unless they make the decision early, we’ll make the announcement of the official lineup there,” said the Serbian mentor.
Co-skippers Chris Tiu and Mark Barroca head the squad that includes JV Casio, Mac Baracael, Greg Slaughter, Dylan Ababou, Jason Ballesteros, Japeth Aguilar, Aldrech Ramos and Fil-Am Marcio Lassiter.
Taulava, Williams and Mercado will play their first game together with the rest of the team when they face the Guangdong Tigers on Nov. 10 and Dongguan Century Leopards Nov. 11.
The Philippines, Kuwait, India, Afghanistan, Hong Kong, North Korea, Turkmenistan and Mongolia are battling for the four slots in the main group, to be divided into two.
The first group is composed of Asian powerhouse Iran, Qatar, Japan and Chinese Taipei while the other is led by Asian champion China, South Korea, Jordan and Uzbekistan.
Source: GMA News
-- Exit Saudi Arabia. Enter Kuwait.
The RP-Smart Gilas team opens its campaign in the 16th Asian Games against Kuwait following the last-minute withdrawal of Saudi Arabia from the basketball competitions of the quadrennial meet.
But the national developmental team should not take Kuwait lightly, according to Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director Noli Eala.
“It’s really hard to tell, but I think we can handle them," said Eala on the national developmental team’s chances of winning over the Kuwaitis.
The SBP officially received the communication letter from FIBA Asia informing the governing cage body of Saudi Arabia’s withdrawal from the Guangzhou Asiad late yesterday afternoon.
Originally part of Group A, Kuwait was moved to Group B under the new groupings made by FIBA Asia for the competition that starts in three weeks.
The all-pro Powerade-Pilipinas national team whipped Kuwait in last year’s FIBA Asia Men’s Basketball Championship in Tianjin, China, 85-71. The Filipinos placed eighth in this Asian qualifying tournament for the World Basketball Championship.
But a lot of changes have happened the past year, so the Kuwaitis may be expected to be among the powerhouse nations from the Middle East, which is now regarded as the hotbed of basketball in the Asian region.
In the event the RP-Smart Gilas team gets past Kuwait, it will advance to the second round where the top four teams in each group after a single round robin advance to the quarterfinals.
Should they make it to Round 2, the national developmental squad will first meet two-time FIBA-Asia men’s champion Iran on Nov. 16 and then play Qatar the following day.
After taking a day's break, the national developmental squad resumes its campaign on Nov. 19 against Japan.
The Filipinos will have another one-day break before concluding their campaign with back-to-back games against either Afghanistan or India (Nov 21) and Chinese Taipei (Nov. 22).
