Five pros to boost Gilas Fiba Asia quest

MANILA, Philippines - Five PBA players – the bulk likely coming from Talk n Text – will reinforce the Smart Gilas Team Pilipinas competing in the 2011 Fiba Asia Championship in Wuhan, China in September.

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas has named eight players, five of whom will be tapped to backstop the Nationals. These are Talk n Text’s Kelly Williams, Ranidel de Ocampo, Jimmy Alapag and Ryan Reyes, Meralco’s Asi Taulava, San Miguel’s Arwind Santos and Jay Washington and Derby Ace’s James Yap.

Originally, the SBP was looking at 10 players, including Sonny Thoss and Joe De Vance of Alaska. But the cage body decided to drop the two Aces from the list when the Alaska management expressed reservations on releasing their players to the national team.

The PBA team owners, in their meeting at the Edsa Shangri-La Plaza Hotel in Mandaluyong Tuesday, made no objection to SBP’s request of support to the national team.

Smart Gilas was allowed to compete as guest team in the second conference. A stint in the third conference is optional.

The PBA officials raised no objection, too, to SBP’s request that the five PBA players chosen to reinforce Smart Gilas be allowed to be with the training pool full time from June to September.

Like in the case of Taulava, Williams and Sol Mercado in their participation in the recent Guangzhou Asian Games, Smart Gilas would first need the approval of the player and his ballclub.

During the press conference after the team owners meeting Tuesday, SBP president and TnT top honcho Manny V. Pangilinan said they’re ready to release all their key players to Smart Gilas.

“While we have good young players (in the training pool), they lack the maturity in close games as opposed to PBA players,” said Pangilinan.

The SBP top official believes a blend of experienced pro players and energetic young players could give the country a good shot at achieving its goal in the Asian meet.

Smart Gilas hopes to qualify in the 2012 London Olympics. The Wuhan tourney serves as the Asian Olympic qualifier, staking one slot in the London Games.

The training pool is currently made up of Marcus Douthit, Mark Barroca, Chris Tiu, Jayvee Casio, Greg Slaughter, Dylan Ababou, Mark Baracael, Japeth Aguilar, Jason Ballesteros, Marcius Lassiter, Chris Lutz, Aldrech Ramos and Magi Sison.

The SBP is looking to add young players Kiefer Ravena, Amer Baser, Bobby Ray Parks and Junmar Fajardo.