Chot bats for Yap, Alapag inclusion in Gilas

Having been part of the Philippine-Smart Gilas team, Chot Reyes believes the nationals still need to beef up their roster with solid backcourt gunners for them to be at par with the rest of the region’s powerhouse seeing action in this year’s FIBA-Asia men’s basketball tournament. Reyes praised the system implemented by coach Rajko Toroman within the team, but pointed out the lack of personnel to do it to the letter. “He’s (Rajko) doing right, but I think he needs better players dahil pang-Olympics na ito," Reyes said, referring to the meet tentatively set for September in China. The event is the qualifying tournament for the 2012 London Olympics.

Reyes, who served as assistant to Toroman during the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou, China, said that adding at least two more players who can consistently hit from the outside can make the Gilas squad more formidable. Reyes pointed out that the likes of B-Meg Derby Ace’s James Yap and Talk `N Text’s Jimmy Alapag should be included in the Philippine five roster. “They need other lights-out shooters in the mold of James Yap, and maybe Jimmy Alapag," said Reyes. Alapag and Yap were part of the San Miguel-backed national team which Reyes handled during the 2007 FIBA-Asia meet in Tokushima, Japan, although Yap was relegated to the reserve list during the tournament proper. Yap did make it back to the Philippine team — supported by Powerade — two years later under coach Yeng Guiao in the 2009 edition of the tournament in Tianjin, China, but Alapag, whom Lebanon national team star Fadi El-Khatib once referred to as the best point guard in Asia, wasn’t included. Reyes, the architect of the Tropang Texters’ six-game demolition of the San Miguel Beermen in the all-Filipino Finals last week, said the recent decision of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) team owners to loan the services of at least five players for the national cause could certainly address that specific concern. Shortly after PBA officials gave their imprimatur allowing at least five pro stars to reinforce the Smart Gilas line-up, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP), together with Toroman and Reyes, drew a 10-man list of probable candidates for the job. Alapag and Yap are included in the list, along with Talk `N Text’s Ryan Reyes, Kelly Williams and Ranidel de Ocampo, the San Miguel tandem of Jay Washington and Arwind Santos, Meralco’s Asi Taulava, and the Alaska duo of Sonny Thoss and Joe Devance. But since Alaska management appeared lukewarm about the idea, both Devance and Thoss have been taken off the list. “Rajko really wants Devance. But with the probability of him not being allowed to play by his mother team, the coach is now looking at Ranidel," Reyes said. The Talk `N Text mentor also didn’t discount the possibility of having four of his Tropang Texters – Alapag, De Ocampo, Williams and Reyes – being named as part of the Smart-Gilas team. “That’s very possible, siguro dahil among the teams, kami ang mas madaling kausap, our owner Mr. Manny V. Pangilinan being the president of the SBP," Reyes said. “Pero pag nagkataon, malamang maubos kami (Tropang Texters)." As of now, the Smart Gilas training pool consists of 6-foot-10 naturalized player Marcus Douthit, Japeth Aguilar, Chris Tiu, JV Casio, Mac Baracael, Mark Barroca, Greg Slaughter, Aldrech Ramos, Marcio Lassiter, Jason Ballesteros, Chris Lutz, Marcio Lassiter and Dylan Ababou. - KY, RCJ, GMA News