Gilas decides on Nationals to be retained

MANILA, Philippines - Smart Gilas will decide today who to retain from its current roster as the team draws up its program for the next two years in line with the country’s bid for the 2014 FIBA World Championship.

Team manager Frankie Lim and Smart Sports’ and Maynilad senior vice president Patrick Gregorio both said everything will be decided without giving specific details as to who are the players to be given contract extensions before the PBA Rookie Draft deadline for application tomorrow.

The Draft is set Aug. 28 at the Robinson’s Place Manila.

“We’re still discussing the plan for Smart Gilas for the next two years but we should be ready by tomorrow (today),” said Lim.

“We’ll probably know everything soon before the PBA draft,” said Gregorio.

Smart Gilas team captain Chris Tiu, JV Casio and other players remain undecided as to whether or not apply for the annual draft or stick it out with the team seeking one of the three FIBA Worlds berths in the 2013 FIBA-Asia Championship.

“Some of my teammates remain undecided because we’re still waiting for the management to talk to us and we don’t really know who to approach,” said Tiu.

“But as I’ve said before, it’s always an honor to play for flag and country,” he added.

“I will make my decision in the proper time,” Casio said.

Smart Gilas co-skipper Mark Barroca, Dylan Ababou and Jason Ballesteros have confirmed their decision to join the draft.

Mac Baracael and Fil-Ams Chris Lutz and Marcio Lassiter have also applied but might withdraw at the last minute.

Japeth Aguilar, who played one game in the PBA before he was traded by Barako Bull to Talk n Text and then loaned to Smart Gilas, said his decision would depend on who will handle the national squad.

Smart Gilas coach Rajko Toroman is still uncertain whether he would be retained or not although observers note that his fate would hinge on how the Filipinos would perform in the FIBA-Asia Championships set Sept. 15-25 in Wuhan, China.

“It’s still uncertain who would coach the team but if it’s still coach (Toroman), I would stay,” said the 6-9 Aguilar.

Meanwhile, Smart Gilas left yesterday to compete in the four-team pocket tournament in Doha, Qatar where it will be pitted against the host country, Lebanon and Syria.

The Nationals will play the Lebanese, who have a new naturalized player in former NBA standout 7-2 Loren Woods, on Aug. 24, the Qatari the next day and the Syrians on Aug. 26.

The team with the best record will then play the No. 4 squad and the Nos. 2 and No. 3 teams face off in the semis on Aug. 28 with the winner disputing the title on Aug. 29.

Unlike in the FIBA Asia Championship in Wuhan, which stakes just one berth in next year’s London Olympics, three spots will be up for grabs in the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship.

“In Wuhan, Asia is given just one berth to the Olympics but in 2013, three slots will be given to Asia so we have a stronger chance to make a good run at it,” said Toroman.

Naturalized Marcus Douthit is expected to lead the Nationals’ FIBA Worlds campaign while seven-footer Greg Slaughter and 6-6 Aldrech Ramos, who are currently playing for Ateneo and Far Eastern U, respectively, in the UAAP, are expected to be tapped again.