Former Lakers draftee beefs up Smart RP 5

MANILA, Philippines - The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas has acquired former Los Angeles Lakers draftee CJ Giles to reinforce the Smart Gilas Pilipinas national team competing in the FIBA-Asia Champions Cup next month in Jakarta, Indonesia.

SBP executive director Noli Eala said the 23-year-old Giles, an agile 6-11 center who can score, rebound and block shots, fits perfectly into the team, which needs a talented, athletic big man to become a virtual contender.

“He fits the bill,” said Eala.

Drafted by the Lakers in last year’s rookie draft, Giles saw action for five games and averaged 2.7 points and 3.4 rebounds.

After his brief stint with the Lakers, Giles went to Toronto and played in last year’s NBA Summer League although he failed to make it to the Raptors roster.

Giles, however, got to see action with the Sioux Falls in the D-League, the NBA’s developmental league, early this year before SBP’s United States scouts spotted him.

The scouts have described Giles, who normed 6.3 points, 5.9 rebounds and two shot blocks with Kansas University and Oregon State from 2004-2007, as having great size, strength, an excellent rebounder and shotblocker.

“We are excited to have Giles in the Smart Gilas Pilipinas team as he will fill in our young guys as fast as possible,” said Smart Gilas Pilipinas coach and SBP project director Serbian Rajko Toroman.

The Nationals are coming off a stint in Belgrade, Serbia where they played a number of exhibition games with the local squads.

Eala said Giles will join the RP team in the PLDT Global training camp for North America starting April 21 in Las Vegas, Nevada where they hope to pick up two or three more Filipino-foreign players for the pool.

Eala, however, refused to say that Giles would eventually be tapped as naturalized player to help the country’s bid for a berth in the 2012 London Olympic Games.

The country’s top collegiate stars banner the Smart Gilas Pilipinas squad, including co-skippers Chris Tiu of Ateneo and Mark Barroca of Far Eastern U.                 – Joey Villar