Dozier-type import for Gilas?

MANILA, Philippines - Gilas coach Chot Reyes said yesterday the national team is on the lookout for a younger, bigger, stronger and better naturalized player to eventually replace Marcus Douthit but at the moment, qualified that the 2004 Los Angeles Lakers second round draft pick from Providence College is “our guy” for the FIBA World Cup in Spain next year.

“I don’t think anyone will begrudge us if we start looking around,” said Reyes. “We’ve talked about it with Marcus and his agent. Actually, Marcus’ contract is up soon because we signed him up only until the FIBA-Asia Championships. Obviously, things are now going to change because we’re playing in Spain. A lot of things can happen between now and Spain, guys could get injured or whatever. If you ask me, I’d like everyone on our FIBA-Asia team to go to Spain either as regular or reserve players, they certainly deserved it, they earned the trip. But at the same time, I’m open to tweaking the lineup.”

Reyes said finding an import to naturalize isn’t easy. “It’s not just about basketball skills, it’s also the willingness to fight for our country,” he explained. “Take Marcus for instance. He really loves it here, he’s got his two kids enrolled in schools in Manila. Some international coaches tell me there are guys better than Marcus out there but I’m saying Marcus is a guy who’ll fight for our country because his heart is with us. Even before the FIBA-Asia Championships, we already talked to Marcus about our plans for the future. It’s not that we’re replacing him right away, it’s just that we want continuity in the Gilas program and looking forward, we’ll be needing a younger guy. We’re lucky we found Marcus because it’s tough to find someone willing to be naturalized, play for our country and stay here.”

Against Iran in the finals of the recent FIBA-Asia Championships, Reyes said Douthit would’ve made a difference. “I don’t think (Hamed) Haddadi would’ve gotten 29 points and 16 rebounds with Marcus around,” said Reyes. “I thought of playing Marcus like a Willis Reed, just for a few minutes to inspire the guys. But I didn’t want to risk his career. He was banged up. His leg was badly swollen, he couldn’t walk straight, he was hobbling. I couldn’t put him out there to play in that condition. Doctors cleared him to play if he could bear the pain. Marcus really tried, he wanted to play. He got treatment right after Korea and the morning of Iran. But he just couldn’t walk.”

Team manager Butch Antonio said the swelling was so deep that it seemed like Douthit’s leg was whacked by a paddle.

Reyes said his model of a naturalized player is Alaska’s Rob Dozier who was named Best Import in the last Commissioner’s Cup. “I’d like a Dozier-type if Dozier himself isn’t available,” said Reyes. “Someone who can play different positions, who can play power forward, small forward and center, someone who can create a mismatch depending on where he plays. I think Dozier’s a great rebounder, he’s quick and he can run with us. He also has a good outside game. I’d really like an import with a crack three-point shot. We don’t necessarily need a seven-footer although I certainly wouldn’t mind a seven-foot shooter with a perimeter game like a Kevin Durant. The problem is Durant’s in the NBA.”

Dozier, 27, is a 6-9, 225-pound forward who was Miami’s second round pick in the 2009 NBA draft out of the University of Memphis. He averaged 20.1 points, 17.3 rebounds and 2.8 blocked shots in 20 games in leading the Aces to the last Commissioner’s Cup crown. Dozier shot .530 from the floor, .308 from beyond the three-point arc and .626 from the line.

Reyes said 7-foot JaVale McGee of the Denver Nuggets would be a fit, too, but making him commit to the Gilas program may not be realistic considering the demands of an NBA career.

Reyes said Haddadi got away with murder in the finals. “I think the only time he got called for a three-second violation was when I was behind the referee and called it,” he said. “And when the referee finally blew the whistle, I think Haddadi was in the lane for five seconds. If you leave him inside that long, you won’t be able to stop from getting the offensive rebound and scoring on a put-back, no matter the bodies you throw at him. He was tired in the end but we couldn’t put pressure on him. He had four fouls and Marcus didn’t even play.”

Gilas assistant coach Joseph Uichico said his mold of a naturalized player is what Reyes has in mind. “We won’t need a seven-footer if JuneMar (Fajardo), Japeth (Aguilar) and Greg (Slaughter) progress,” he said. “If those guys improve, we could get an import who can play three or four, someone who can shoot from the outside with size. We need a strong body to contend with guys like Haddadi, maybe a 6-9 or 6-10 power forward who can run. He should fit our style.”

Douthit, 33, was the leading scorer and rebounder at the 2011 FIBA-Asia Championships in Wuhan two years ago, averaging 21.9 points and 12.2 boards. In this year’s edition, he averaged 11.9 points and 9.4 rebounds. Up to the Qatar game where he hurt his leg, Douthit averaged 15 points and 10.8 boards. Playing hurt, he had 13 points in 31 minutes against Hong Kong, five points in 22 minutes against Kazakhstan and two points in 13 minutes against South Korea.

Douthit was supposed to play sparingly against Hong Kong but soaked in more minutes than expected as Gilas had to scramble from behind to win. That effort drained Douthit who pushed himself to the limit against Kazakhstan and set the tone defensively against South Korea before sitting out the second half. He had nothing left for the finals and helplessly, watched from the bench as his teammates battled in the gold medal game.