Gilas wants Douthit, McGee for national five

Smart Gilas Pilipinas is now preparing to negotiate with Marcus Douthit for a new contract while keeping its line open for NBA player Javale McGee as another option for naturalization.

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Manny V. Pangilinan, Smart Sports official Patrick Gregorio, Smart Gilas operations director Butch Antonio and coaches Chot Reyes and Ryan Gregorio had an informal meeting on the Gilas plans for the coming year this Monday.

"Douthit's playing contract in the Chinese league is expiring in February or March. We'll start negotiating to get Marcus back," Antonio told The STAR.

Marcus' initial contract with Smart Gilas lapsed last October. He was allowed to enter into a deal with a Chinese ballclub so that he can continue playing and stay in competitive form.

"We're now getting him back as we’re now forming the national pool," said Antonio.

At the same time, Antonio said McGee is still an option even as the NBA has resumed.

"He's still there. Chot (Reyes) is the one talking with them (McGee camp). We're really looking at a long-term program, and you need a 20-plus-year-old naturalized player to move up," said Antonio.

If ever, Smart Gilas would maintain two naturalized players in its fold. Douthit can't be cut, especially with McGee's naturalization papers not yet being processed.

The STAR has reported that McGee has expressed interest to play for Smart Gilas as a naturalized player. McGee currently endorses a Smart-PLDT brand.

McGee is younger, taller and more agile player than Douthit. The 23-year-old Washington Wizard, a seven-foot dunker, can well match up better with the likes of Yi Jianlian of China and Hamed Haddadi of Iran.

Antonio said Smart Gilas coaches would get together within the month to invite players who will form the national pool.

The current pool of coaches includes Reyes, Gregorio and Norman Black. SBP is open to another deal with Rajko Toroman and is also keen on inviting former national coaches Tim Cone and Jong Uichico.

Smart-PLDT is running a program for Smart Gilas II with a goal of making the World Championship in 2014.

The 2013 FIBA Asia Championship serves as the regional qualifier for the world joust. The top three advance to the World Championship.

The original Smart Gilas team narrowly missed the top three in the 2011 Asian championship, yielding a won ball game to Korea in the fight for third.

With practically all members of the original team having turned pro, the Smart management is now looking at the players of Sinag Pilipinas to make the core of the Smart Gilas II.

Sinag Pilipinas, which won for the country the basketball gold medal in the recent SEA Games, were made up of Greg Slaughter, Jake Pascual, Garvo Lanete, Nico Salva, Chris Ellis, Cliff Hodge, Dave Marcelo, Bobby Ray Parks, Kiefer Ravena, RR Garcia, Eman Monfort and Chris Tiu.

source by Nelson Beltran, The Philippine Star

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No. 7 – Gilas defies odds, gains Fiba-Asia semis

Bannered by college players and backstopped by a naturalized big man and a handful of pros, Smart Gilas Pilipinas defied the odds and turned in a fourth place finish in the FIBA-Asia Championship, the country’s best effort in two and a half decades.

The Nationals crashed into the Final Four but bowed to the mighty Jordanians, 61-75. They appeared headed for a breakthrough third place finish but cracked in the face of the sharp-shooting South Koreans’ fourth quarter surge, dropping a heartbreaking 68-70 setback in their bronze medal duel in 26th edition of the biennial event in Wuhan, China.

But it was no small feat for the Nationals, who made quite an impression with a team built around former collegiate superstars and beefed up by Marcus Douthit, a 6-10 naturalized player, and pros Kelly Williams, Jimmy Alapag and Ranidel de Ocampo of Talk N’ Text and Asi Taulava of Meralco.

In fact, the fourth place effort prompted Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Manny V. Pangilinan to announce that he is extending the cage program for the 2014 FIBA World Championship.

The Wuhan finish also proved that the Filipinos have the talent and skills to match up with the best teams in the region, including China, Jordan, Iran, Korea, Japan, Chinese Taipei and Lebanon.

However, all but team captain Chris Tiu have joined the pro ranks, including JV Casio, Chris Lutz, Marcio Lassiter, Mark Barroca, Mac Baracael, Dylan Ababou and Jason Ballesteros although experts believe there are enough talents available in the collegiate ranks, who could be tapped for Smart Gilas II squad.

source by Philippine Star

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Tiu ready for another tour of duty with Gilas

Smart Gilas Pilipinas and Sinag Pilipinas team captain Chris Tiu is looking forward to resuming national team duties for a Phl squad seeking no less than a berth in the 2014 FIBA World Championship in Spain.

Tiu, who skippered the Norman Black-mentored all-amateur team that snared the basketball gold medal in last month’s 26th Southeast Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia, is itching for another tour of duty, this time with Smart Gilas II, which is expected to be formed early next year.

“Yes I want to still play for the national team and hoping that the Smart Gilas II program will allow me to fulfill my dream of playing in the World Championships or the Olympics,” Tiu yesterday told The STAR.

Smart Gilas II is a reprise of the program of the original Gilas team that came to within two wins of a ticket to the 2012 London Olympics.

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president and Smart chair Manny V. Pangilinan has announced that the Gilas program would be retained without specifying the team composition.

The idea is to form the coaching staff first by the first quarter of 2012.

Being considered are Serbian mentor Rajko Toroman, Black and PBA coaches Chot Reyes, Ryan Gregorio, Tim Cone and Jong Uichico.

Tiu didn’t want to comment on his coaching preference.

“I’m as clueless as you and everybody and I don’t want to comment on who I want as coach of Gilas II,” said Tiu.

Tiu, however, stressed that the players who would be chosen to comprise Gilas II should be dedicated and committed to staying with the program.

“There are many talented players in the Philippines but not all truly desire to play for the national team,” said Tiu. “Of course height is important for the frontline but what’s more important is commitment.”

Tiu and naturalized Marcus Douthit are expected to be named members of Gilas II.

Greg Slaughter, Aldrech Ramos, Kiefer Ravena, Bobby Ray Parks, RR Garcia, Garvo Lanete, Dave Marcelo and Kevin Alas are collegiate players likely to be considered.

source by Joey Villar |The Philippine Star

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Gems battle Waves for solo D-League lead

MANILA, Philippines—Cebuana Lhuillier shoots for the solo lead against unpredictable Boracay Rum in the PBA D-League Aspirants Cup Monday at the San Juan Gym.

Although assured of at least a quarterfinal berth with a 6-1 card, the Gems hope to further boost their outright semifinal bid in the 4 p.m. duel against the Waves, who are in the middle of the pack at 4-3.

The Gems boast a solid lineup led by Vic Manuel, but coach Luigi Trillo said the Waves remain as one of the unpredictable teams in the league.

“You never know what to expect with coach Lawrence (Chongson),” said Trillo. “He can zone, man or trap. My concern is that they are a very good fast-breaking team. They frustrate teams with their tenacity on defense.”

Café France, holding a 2-3 record, tries to lift its own quarterfinal hopes against the winless PC Gilmore at 2 p.m.

Trillo expects the Gems to do better at the boards with the 6-foot-7 duo of Yousef Taha and Raymond Almazan back in their roster.

“For us to control Boracay Rum, we need to win the rebounding department,” said Trillo as the Gems try to extend their winning run to four.

Taha, the Filipino-Palestininan standout from Mapua, just got his clearance from the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation, while Almazan missed the Gems’ last three games as he suited up for Letran

The Waves, sharing fifth spot with the idle Pacific Pipes, also remain in the running for the quarterfinal bonus.

Only the top two teams at the end of the eliminations will go straight to the semifinals, while the third and fourth placers will earn the twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinal playoffs.

source | by Jasmine W. Payo | Philippine Daily Inquirer

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Aldrech Ramos leads Philippine Patriots lineup

Former SMART-Gilas Pilipinas center Aldrech Ramos will serve as the foundation of the AirAsia Philippine Patriots when they plunge into action in the ASEAN Basketball League in January next year.

The 6-foot-6 Ramos was signed by the Patriots to beef up their roster as they try to regain supremacy in the league now entering its third season.

Also included in the Patriots lineup are ex-Singapore Slinger Al Vergara and former PBA players Marcy Arellano, Reed Juntilla, Jonathan Fernadez and Eddie Laure.

Erick Rodriguez, Ardy Larong, Eder Saldua, Angel Raymundo, Warren Ybanez and Rob Wainright are also included in the line-up.

Incidentally, the Patriots new head coach in Glenn Capacio coached Ramos at Far Eastern University in the UAAP.

“He has improved tremendously since the last time I handled him,” said Glenn Capacio. “He’s really a good catch because I know he can lead this team to greatness.”

“He’s lean but he can hurt you with his soft jumpers from medium range,” said Philippine Patriots co-team owner Mikee Romero.

The Patriots won the inaugural season defeating the Satria Muda BritAma in 2010 but lost the title to the Chang Thailand Slammers last year.

The Patriots will compete in a fund-raising tournament in Bangkok next week and will go up against the Thailand Slammers, Singapore Slingers and expansion teams San Miguel Beermen and Bangkok Basketball Holdings.

source | Reuben Terrado, InterAKTV

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PBA reports increases in attendance, gate receipts

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Basketball Association is on track for another highly successful season if marked improvement in gate attendance, gate receipts and TV rating just in the elimination phase of the Philippine Cup is any indication.

PBA commissioner Chito Salud gladly reported today a 20-percent increase in attendance and 10-percent increase in receipts compared to what the league enjoyed over the same period last year.

AKTV Sports manager Vito Lazatin, meanwhile, announced steady improvement of the league’s TV viewership.

“We believe PBA fans who watch the games are going home very happy with their expectation met if not exceeded,” said Salud.

“Few months into the season and so far so good. TV rating is steadily improving and that’s because we’re seeing games that are exciting and thrilling,” Lazatin said.

Two months into their partnership with the PBA, Lazatin believed they have managed to heighten the Filipinos’ interest on the PBA games with the help of the sports channel’s successful “Kampihan Na!” campaign.

“It’s an important element to promote PBA. We compel fans to watch more and choose side. In every game, there’s always a side and we compel the fans to pick their team. That’s the rationale of ‘Kampihan,’” Lazatin said.

“So far, it’s going according to plan. It’s working and the PBA is right there at the forefront of our campaign,” added Lazatin.

AKTV is the primetime sports block on IBC 13, airing various sports programs like the PBA D-League, United Football League and Pacific X-Treme Combat.

The B-Meg Llamados-Ginebra Kings match was one of the most watched games, attracting a crowd of nearly 15,000. It’s also the second highest watched game on television based on Nielsen Media Ratings’ NUTAM data.

PBA and AKTV officials expect gate attendance and TV viewership to pick up even more with the Philippine Cup playoffs about to start.

Quarterfinal seedings will be finalized as Talk n Text tangles with Barangay Ginebra and Rain or Shine tackles Alaska Milk at the close of the elims on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Texters are chasing the top seeding while the Kings and the Elasto Painters are jockeying for position in the two best-of-three quarterfinals pairings.

The quarterfinal round begins Wednesday.


source By Nelson Beltran philstar.com

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Streaking Ginebra moves up to joint 4th

Barangay Ginebra clinched a spot in the best-of-three quarterfinals as it continued to get going, topping Barako Bull, 88-83, in the penultimate play date of the PBA Philippine Cup elimination round at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Thursday.

The Kings came out strong and withstood the Energy’s second-half fightback as they made it four in a row and tied the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters at fourth place at 8-5.

Ginebra secured a seat in the Top Six while Barako settled for seventh place, facing a quarterfinals opponent with a twice-to-beat advantage.

The Kings play either the Elasto Painters or the Meralco Bolts in the quarters.

“We achieved the first step of avoiding the top seed or the second seed. Nonetheless, we’ll continue to play hard and see where we fall,” said Ginebra coach Siot Tanquingcen.

Talk n Text and Ginebra play Sunday merely for placing.

“We need to keep playing. You don’t come into the game with a mindset that you’re playing a non-bearing. Wala dapat non-bearing. Somehow, it will carry over or you create bad habits,” said Tanquingcen.

Mike Cortez banged away five triples and finished with 17 points, six rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block while Mark Caguioa came off the bench to add 16 points, four rebounds and three assists.

Rob Labagala and KG Canaleta had significant help as the Kings eventually eased the Energy out in the fight for spot in the Top Six.

Caguioa and Canaleta delivered instant offense coming off the bench, fuelling an early Ginebra breakaway.

The Kings led by as many as 20 in the second quarter before settling for a 15-point lead, 47-32, at the turn.

Caguioa had amassed nine points, three rebounds and the same number of assists while Canaleta had had seven points and four rebounds by the half.

Stepping up in the second quarter, the Kings erected a 20-point lead at 47-27.

Leo Najorda and Willie Miller, however, went firing in the third quarter, and the Energy rallied and pulled even at 67-all.

A turnaround jumper by Danny Seigle at the start of the payoff period even carried Barako ahead at 69-67.

The Kings, however, regained their bearing and salvaged the crucial win. (SB)

The scores:

GINEBRA 88 - Cortez 17, Caguioa 16, Labagala 14, Canaleta 13, Wilson 8, Villanueva 7, Tubid 6, Intal 4, Menk 3, Maliksi 0, Mamaril 0.

BARAKO 83 - Miller 18, Najorda 14, Ababou 12, Arboleda 11, Allado 9, Seigle 8, Pena 6, Artadi 3, Pennisi 2, Salvador 0, Salvacion 0.

Quarters: 20-15, 47-32, 67-67, 88-83

source pba.com.ph

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UC rains triples on SSC in graceful exit, 92-71

MANILA, Philippines – Unleashing a barrage of threes, UC routed a heavily favored San Sebastian side, 92-71, to end its 2011 Philippine Collegiate Champions League bid with a bang at The Arena in San Juan City today.

The Webmasters, the reigning Cebu champions who dropped their first two games against the Ateneo Eagles, 53-100, and the San Beda Lions, 77-83, torched the Stags with a PCCL record 16 triples that sealed the win.

Edward Pao accounted for seven of those to finish with 25 points while Robinson Mohammad had six and wound up with 20 points to share the spotlight with the 6-10 Junmar Fajardo, who had 20 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks.

"I told my players that my secret is to make at least 300 triples or more a day," said former PBA gunner Roel Gomez, who could be coaching an ABL team this coming season or get tapped as an assistant coach by his former team Alaska or ex-mentor and now B-Meg's Tim Cone.

"I also trained them to establish their footing first, visualize their target and just fire without unnecessary moves," he added.

Reigning NCAA MVP Calvin Abueva paced the Stags with 17 points he spiked with nine rebounds and four assists but didn't get enough production particularly from Ian Sangalang, who managed only nine points and five boards.

The loss was the first for the Stags, who missed Ronald Pascual due to a torn ACL (anterior cruciate ligament). But they still ended up with the top seeding in the finals and the twice-to-beat advantage that came with it after toppling the Lions, 87-72, Monday and stunning the Eagles, 70-69, Tuesday.

Ateneo and San Beda will collide at 4 p.m. tomorrow with the winner playing San Sebastian in the finals on Monday.



The Webmasters and the Stags engaged in a three-point shootout as the two combined for 14 triples with the former making eight and the latter draining six as the Visayan champions led the way, 47-45, at the break.

Edward Pao erupted for 13 points early, including three from beyond the arc, while Fajardo silently drilled in nine points in the first 20 minutes of play.

Earlier, Far Eastern U-Ferns defeated La Salle-Greenhills, 85-77, in a high school charity game benefitting the cleanup of Pasig River.

The scores:

UC 92 – Pao 25, Mohammad 20, Fajardo 20, Heruela 12, Bercede 12, Auditor 3, Ocariza 0, Batino 0, Ampoon 0

San Sebastian 71 – Abueva 17, Ferrer 9, Sangalang 9, Vitug 9, Grilli 8, del Rio 6, Miranda 4, dela Cruz 4, Balacunag 3, Maiquez 2

Quarterscores: 22-17; 47-45; 69-57 92-71

by By Joey Villar philstar.com - source

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KINGS, ENERGY FIGHT FOR 'QF' SIXTH SEEDING

Barangay Ginebra seeks to secure spot in the Top Six in taking on pursuer Barako Bull in the penultimate play date of the PBA Philippine Cup elimination round at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Thursday.

Now a long shot for a twice-to-beat quarterfinals advantage, Ginebra will be satisfied to make the best-of-three quarterfinals.

The Kings take their first of two shots at it in tackling the Energy at 7:30 p.m.

“We have to come into the game with a playoff mentality,” said Ginebra coach Siot Tanquingcen, anticipating a tough battle with Barako.

The Energy themselves are well motivated, likewise driven by that desire to avoid being matched up with a team enjoying twice-to-beat edge in the quarters.

“Mabigat talaga ‘yon,” said Tanquingcen.

Ginebra automatically eases Barako out of the race for the top six with a win in their game.

The Kings, meanwhile, bungle their bid if they drop their last two games versus the Energy Thursday and against the Tropang Texters Sunday.

“We had a good weekend but the mission is not yet over. We still have to keep on fighting and keep on climbing,” said Tanquingcen after they notched a third straight win with an 81-71 drubbing of the Meralco Bolts Sunday.

It was historic being the 800th win in franchise history.

Barako slid to seventh place following back-to-back losses to B-Meg and Powerade.

If they fail to rise from there, the Energy play the second-seeded team in the quarterfinals, needing to win two in a row to advance to the semis.

The third seed goes up against the sixth seed and the fourth seed plays the fifth seed in a pair of best-of-three quarterfinals series.

The other quarterfinals pairing pits the top seed versus No. 8.

“The goal really is not just to make the quarterfinals. Kailangan maiwasan namin lumaban against a team with a twice-to-beat advantage. Mabigat yon,” Tanquingcen insisted.

Needless to say, the Energy have the same thing in mind. (SB)

source pba.com.ph

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Boracay sets sights on streak, No. 1 spot

source | Philippine Daily Inquirer | MANILA, Philippines—Boracay Rum tries to sustain its steady climb against skidding Big Chill in the PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup Wednesday at the San Juan Gym.

Now running third, the Waves go for a fifth victory in the 4 p.m. duel which coach Lawrence Chongson said will be crucial in their bid to go all the way to the top spot.
“We have a long way to go but we’ll really do our best to get five straight wins,” said Chongson. “We want to be No. 1.”

The Waves hold a 4-2 record behind Freego Jeans and Cebuana Lhuillier, which share the top spot at 6-1.

RnW Pacific Pipes also shoot for a fourth triumph against the winless Cobra Energy Drink at 2 p.m.

Led by Glenn Khobuntin and Maclean Sabelina, the Waves turned back Dub Unlimited, 72-68, for their third win in a row.

“We’re treating this as a do-or-die week for us,” said Chongson. “We are not yet safely inside the top six so we’ve got our work cut out for us.”

Only the top two teams at the end of the eliminations will earn outright semifinal berths, while the rest slug it out in the quarterfinals.

By Jasmine W. Payo

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SBP to conduct talent search for new SMART-Gilas pool

Source |  InterAKTV  | The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas is planning a nationwide search for non-professional players to become part of the second incarnation of the SMART-Gilas Pilipinas national program.

“We want to widen the search by tapping both the known and unknown players,” said SBP executive director Sonny Barrios. “The known players, of course, are those playing in the collegiate and amateur leagues, like those present members from the Sinag Pilipinas team that won the SEA Games gold medal and the unknown talents, who may have the potential, but have yet to be discovered.”

The planned search is scheduled after a new coach is named for a program in January. Among the candidates for the position are Rajko Toroman, who handled the program in its first three years and led the Philippine team to a fourth-place finish in the 2011 FIBA Asia Championship, Norman Black, who steered Sinag Pilipinas to the Southeast Asian Games gold medal, and Chot Reyes and Ryan Gregorio, the head coaches of PBA ballclubs bankrolled by SBP president Manuel V. Pangilinan.

“That should have been the first move, but it was also reset because our boss is very busy now,” said Barrios. The coach will be instrumental in the formation of the national pool of non-PBA players.

The SBP will then work with the PBA on a list of players who will join the pool. PBA commissioner Chito Salud earlier committed 16 players who will reinforce the national team in high-level Asian competitions.Barrios said that the choice of players from the PBA would be the last part of the process.

“It’s too early to do it,” said Barrios. “We still don’t know who will be the available PBA players are at that time. There will be a rookie draft coming in 2012, and the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship is still more than a year from now.”

by Reynaldo Belen

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Chris Tiu blasts ‘absurd’ state of sports

Source | Philippine Daily Inquirer | JAKARTA—There were several close shaves and moments of glory, and Philippine sports leaders can argue all they want that some silver medals should have been golds had it gotten a break here or there.

But overall, disappointment clearly attended the country’s drive in the 26th Southeast Asian Games.

The campaign was so disappointing, in fact, that even a Filipino athlete who went home with a gold medal in basketball still can’t accept the poor state of sports in the country now.

“If we lose to Thailand, to Indonesia, that would be OK for me,” basketball star Chris Tiu told the Inquirer Tuesday before joining the rest of the victorious Philippine quintet on the way home.

“But to lose to Singapore? That’s absurd.”

The Philippines capped its worst-ever SEA Games stint with just 36 gold medals, three short of the number it won two years ago in winding up fifth overall in Vientiane, Laos. But there were only 25 events that year and thus a fewer number of athletes were sent.

The 512-strong Philippine delegation fell short of their two targets in these Games: To improve on that fifth-place finish and to win more medals. Meeting either one would have been a success.

“I have nothing against the Singaporeans, but look at them, they’re very few, the base for selecting the athletes is so small,” Tiu said. “And when you look at them, they’re not even athletic.”

Tiu has a beef there.

Talents have been scarce in coming for the Philippines. Clear case in point: After Miguel Molina, a former Most Outstanding Athlete in the SEA Games, retired a few months go, swimming laid a big fat egg in Palembang. Taekwondo and boxing produced the most number of gold medals in Indonesia with four each.

“We’re better than them [Singaporeans],” said Tiu. “We’re better than where we are.”

Bickering among sports leaders and national sports associations has practically slowed the discovery and development of new talents.

Athletics, the country’s best performer in past SEA Games, produced just two gold medals courtesy of old faces who have dominated in the SEA Games.

At least, Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association president Go Teng Kok had the guts to pin the blame on himself.

The Philippines started these Games third all-time in total of medals won, behind the overall champion Indonesians and the Thais. At the rate the country’s progress in sports is going, though, it wouldn’t be long before Vietnam, Singapore and Malaysia catch up.

If that happens, the barnacles of disaster clinging to Philippine sports would be tough to get rid of.

By Musong R. Castillo

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