source: Joey Villar | philstar.com
The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas has officially signed up American Jamal Wesley Sampson as its player-candidate for naturalization who will beef up the Smart Gilas Pilipinas team bidding for a berth in the 2012 London Olympics.
SBP executive director Noli Eala yesterday made the announcement, saying the entry of the hefty, 6-11 center should be a fitting, if not better, replacement for CJ Giles.
“The SBP is pleased to announce the formal signing of Jamal Wesley Sampson as the newest member of the Smart Gilas Pilipinas national team,” said Eala.
“Sampson, a legit center out of University of California-Berkeley and a five-year veteran of the NBA, will replace Giles as the naturalized player-candidate of Smart Gilas,” he said.
SBP president Manny V. Pangilinan and vice chair Ricky Vargas both welcomed Sampson’s addition to the team, saying his presence will surely enhance the country’s Olympic hopes.
“We welcome the presence of Jamal in the national team. His maturity, size and skills are what we need in our quest,” said the PLDT and Smart top official, referring to the country’s Olympic basketball dreams.
“Jamal is the player we need and his signing with Smart Gilas has improved our competitiveness,” Vargas said. “A true pro, he gave up better offers in China because he prefers to work with our players and live in the Philippines,” he said.
Eala said it took the SBP two weeks to negotiate with Sampson.
“It took nearly two weeks of negotiations to get Jamal, but at least both parties are assured our deal was not hastily done,” he said.
Sampson will suit up with the Nationals in the PBA starting Friday against Barako Bull.
The 26-year-old Sampson suited up for five NBA teams in as many seasons. After just one year of collegiate basketball, Sampson decided to turn pro and was drafted in the second round by the Utah Jazz seven seasons ago.
He went on to play for the Milwaukee Bucks, the Los Angeles Lakers, the Charlotte Bobcats, the Sacramento Kings and, finally, the Denver Niuggets.
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Jamal is the center we actually needed all along. Releasing CJ Giles turned out to be a blessing in disguise. While Giles was talented, he really was a converted forward and did not have the bulk become a threat down low. Jamal will give the RP team the inside defense and rebounding we have longed for. Our local boys can simply concentrate on launching their treys from every corner of the court, even Japeth with his developing three point shot will benefit from Jamal's inside presence.
My only dissapointed is with Junmar and Paul lee who chose to stay with their schools and forego the chance of a lifetime. Although we badly need them, I believe good karma is still on our side. SBP will still be pursuing Stanley pringle, the guard who can take us to the next level and possibly Christian Stanhardinger or Nico Monachini . .two other versatile big men who can play both forward positions.
Good job SBP ! And goodluck Smart Gilas boys ! - Allan Boy
nice one gilas team..
Finally!!!
good choice... laban para sa bayan
Hope we could get another backup center soon, just like what the other middle eastern teams are doing. RP team needs another backup naturalized center in case Jamal Sampson gets injured before the FIBA tournament in 2011 . . . .I heard SBP is considering either Earl Barron or Gabe Pruit, two legitimate centers . .I am pretty sure that the lure of living in a nice country like the Philippines will be a big factor outside the financial considerations . . I also hope that they get a Filipina as a wife just like Norman black or Bobby Parks so that we can benefit from their gene pool and produce Big men for the RP team in the future . .
Great news.The addition of Jamal Sampson will definitely ease smart gilas lack of inside game.I also feel that there is no need to recruit Fajardo and Lee,let them play for their school,anyway it's not our lost. I'm still optimistic that Pringle can join smart gilas,in the case of stanhardinger,i believe he's not allowed to sign up with other teams,as he is currently playing for University of Nebraska.
UnoDosTres
UC mahiya nman kayo,pahiram nyo s bayan c fajardo
it wil be difficult to stop sampson against the PBA centers dis time...
If Fajardo will be another Ballesteros or Slaughter, he's not a loss. Why pursue Paul Lee? we need a tall guard or small forward- Tiu,Casio and Barroca can handle the point and off guard positions along with Bracael. Ramos can shoot and slash as a small forward. it's obvious that Americans or Fil foreigners are more willing to play for the country and their games are more proven. Lee,Fajardo, Maierhoffer are mere moneymakers, or their handlers - who are used to politicking in this country. We have more talented players out there who are willing and can be used like Espiritu and Baclao who are versatile players who can show their teeths in the game unlike some players in Smart Gilas.
Tim Coneho
paul lee and fajardo is not a loss....the big loss was rey guevarra..of letran....his like the slasher that we need...so..its upto SBP to sign either jared dilinger or cyrus bagiuo...im sure...they are badly needed...another big man....well....samigue eman...can kick fajardo's freakin......---....im sure...
Huwag nyo nang pilitin si Fajardo. He got the height pero medyo kasing bilis lang siyang kumilos compared to Eman. Magkakalat lang yan. Sa CESAFI di niya kayang magchampion school team vs Greg Slaughter's team.
hoy UC payagan nyo n maglaro sa gilas c fajardo..pag ndi nyo un ginawa mananagot kau samin...
AMPATUAN BROTHERS..
para sa mga handler ni junmar...c jamal sampson nasa gilas na, kano pa un mama.. d ba kayo nahihiya? un bata nyo pinoy pero ayaw nyo palaruin sa national team ...talaga bang trapong politiko kayo? un mga bayolenteng politiko sa mindanao nakakarma na...gusto nyo bang sumunod? nagtatanong lang...kayo din! hmm.....
we have no chance do get christian hardinger cuz hes already playing for nebraska college and based on their rules they cant play for another team unless their done playing for theier school,and about pringle's case i dont think hes interested but i hope he join gilas someday,chriz lutz is like the more interested joining the gilas among the fil ams. sana may backup center tayu aside from jamal,kasi mahihirapan tyu pag wala sya sa court sana lang magimproved si slaughter! and in case of paul lee and fajardo! si paul lee hayaan na yan! masyado ng loaded ang mga guards natin tpos si fajardo e bayaan nyo kung ayaw feeling magaling e yung nba nga o tignan nyo pumayag kayo pa pero bayaan na yan si fajardo haha e mas magaling pa dyan si slaughter e! sana magimproved si greg,tsaka sana may back up center tyu pede pa nmn magnaturalized e or kahit small forward na matangkad pede na! si gabe freeman sana kunin or another center para incase na dikdikan ang laban ayus lang kahit mafouled out yung isa dahil may pang palit tyu sana maintindihan ng ibang pilipino yan kasi hirap sa kanila ayaw mag import! e u.s.a nga ininaturalized si olajuwan e kahit sobrang lakas na nila tyu pa kaya?! kailangan tlga kasi ntin ngayun ng tulong! gusto nung iba pure pinoy e san ka makakakuha ng pure pinoy na 6'11 na bulky ang katawan tpos nakakatakbo! e si greg kaya lang hndi pa sya masyado nagiimproved pero yun lang! go gilas! sana si baclao and espiritu nasa team! para block party! haha go gilas
For Lee & Fajardo, you can't blamed them if they don't want to join in the team pinas, I think studies muna priority nila. After basketball career what will happen to them? At least they have a fall back.
Let us hope that we can find another center in case there will be an injuries...