DOUTHIT & ALAPAG IN,BLATCHE & CASTRO OUT OF ASIAD ROSTER
Marcus Douthit is back in the Gilas Pilipinas team while Jimmy Alapag is extending his tour of duty as a national player.
And another change in the Gilas lineup could be made before the 2014 Asian Games men’s basketball competition gets going in Incheon, Korea on Sept. 24.
This was the compromise reached by the Incheon Asian Games Organizing Committee and Philippine sports officials in a meeting in Incheon Thursday.
“It’s a good compromise,” said Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas vice chairman Ricky Vargas of the news they heard from Philippine Sports Commission chairman Richie Garcia and SBP consultant Moying Martelino.
“We were afraid even Douthit would not be allowed to play,” Vargas also said.
“They stood pat on their decision, saying Blatche is definitely out. But they softened a bit through the representation of Richie (Garcia) and Moying (Martelino) plus the letter of appeal of MVP (SBP president Manny V. Pangilinan),” said Vargas.
With that, the national cage federation declared its quest for the gold medal in the 2014 Asian Games is on.
“It’s been a long journey and the players want to play. Majority of our people want us to play,” said Vargas. “If not for the players and their confidence, we would have second thoughts.”
The SBP officials believe Gilas Pilipinas also stands a good chance to win a medal with Douthit, the original Gilas naturalized player who’ve been into two FIBA Asia Championships.
“Douthit’s long been with Gilas. He’s been practicing with the team even with the entry of Andray Blatche. Douthit brings chemistry to the team,” said Vargas.
Vargas said they may make another lineup change depending on the health status of the players.
“Injured daw si (Marc) Pingris at si Paul Lee. So depende kung gusto nilang tumuloy o hindi,” said Vargas.
Ranidel de Ocampo, June Mar Fajardo, Japeth Aguilar, Gabe Norwood, Jeff Chan, Gary David, LA Tenorio and Jared Dillinger are the other players in the lineup of the team that will try to improve on the sixth-place finish of Team PHL in Guangzhou, China in 2010.
The country has not won an Asiad basketball medal of any color since the Philippine Centennial Team, under coach Tim Cone, copped the bronze in the 1998 Bangkok Games. (SB)
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