MANILA, Philippines - Hindi iniintindi ni naturalized player Marcus Douthit ng Gilas Pilipinas ang mga NBA players na ipaparada ng China para sa darating na 2013 FIBA-Asia Championships na nakatakda sa Agosto 1-11.
“I’m not worried about the other teams,†wika ni Douthit ukol kina NBA veterans Wang Zhizhi at Yi Jianlian ng China.
“I’m just concerned about our team. The other teams won’t beat us. If we lose, it’s because we beat ourselves. If we do what we’re supposed to, we’ll be okay. I don’t keep up with what’s going on with the other teams. I hear Lebanon naturalizes players at the rate of two a year,†ani Douthit.
Sinabi ni Douthit na inaasahan niyang magkakampeon ang Gilas Pilipinas sa 2013 FIBA-Asia Championships at ang China at Iran ang dalawang maglalaban sa dalawa pang tiket patu-ngo sa 2014 FIBA World Championships sa Spain.
“This is the longest time I’m preparing for a competition in my career, even longer than camps in the NBA,†sabi ng 6’10, 235-pound na dating Pro-vidence College center.
“It’s one of the biggest moments of my life. I’m focusing on being mentally and physically ready. I’m not thinking about Spain yet, I’m just thinking of FIBA-Asia five months from now. There’s no second chance for us. If we don’t qualify, we’ve got nothing going for us next year. Unless we get it done, we’ll end up with nothing. That’s why I’m focused on being in the best shape of my career. I expect Gilas to be No. 1. China or Iran will finish next----one will be second and the other, third,†dagdag pa nito.