PBA Draft top prospect Tautuaa called up for Gilas duties as ‘back up’
Moala Tautuaa, projected top overall pick of the 2015 Gatorade PBA Rookie Draft, showed up in Gilas Pilipinas uniform in Meralco gym Thursday night.
The Fil-Tongan center has been called up to the Gilas practice to provide additonal warm body for the nationals who are going into week 3 of their build up for the 2015 Fiba Asia Championships in September.
Tautuaa, though, could only be considered as a “naturalized player” and a back-up to naturalized player Andray Blatche in the event the former NBA player cannot suit up in the Asian championships.
Under Fiba rules, a Fil-foreigner like player Tautuaa should secure a passport from a country before turning 16 in order to be considered eligible to play for the national team.
Tautuaa, though, relishes the chance to join the Gilas Pilipinas even just as a back-up plan.
“It feels good, I’m excited to be here, it’s a good learning experience now I’m playing backup, a Plan B for the team but I’m excited,” Tautuaa, who made a name in the PBA Developmental League, said.
“I’m not looking at it as a negative thing, it’s a positive thing for me, I get to get my foot on the door with some of the PBA players who’ve been doing it for years and years.”
Tautuaa is happy to gain experience from the veterans as he embarks on his journey to the pro league. He is expected to be tabbed high in the draft set on Aug. 23. at Robinsons’ Midtown in Ermita.
One of those seasoned guys Tautuaa can learn the ropes from is fellow Fil-Tongan center Asi Taulava, who at 42 is still one of the most dominant big men in the PBA.
“Asi’s shoes are big shoes to fill, I mean obviously,” Tautuaa said. “I’m not backing down from anything and I give the best I can do.”
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