TeamPilipinas.info: Smart Gilas feels it has found ‘Mr. Right’

Smart Gilas feels it has found ‘Mr. Right’

source: June Navarro | inquirer.net

All indications point to Dwayne Jones being a perfect fit for the Smart Gilas Pilipinas national team.

At least that’s how Rajko Toroman sees it after the Gilas mentor revealed that they are close to signing up the 6-foot-11, 251-pound inside operator out of Saint Joseph University, a US NCAA Division I school.

“I like Jones,” said Toroman. “But we have to make a deal. Coach Greg Popovich (of the San Antonio Spurs) was very positive about him. I’m doing my best to get as much information as I can.”

The Serbian coach saw Jones in the NBA D-League during a recent visit in the United States.

Toroman said Smart Gilas team manager Frankie Lim is on the negotiating table with the 26-year-old Jones, who played for the Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers and Charlotte Bobcats in the NBA.

“Coach was very impressed with Jones,” said Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director Noli Eala. “We’ve been studying his statistics and credentials. Clearly, he’s a worthy candidate.”

Eala added that Jones is described as one of the best big men in the D-League with NBA size and rebounding skills.

“If he is what the scouts have said, then definitely he will be a huge catch for Gilas. We’re praying that all goes well and that finally we’ve found Mr. Right,” said Eala.

He pointed out that the SBP is more careful now on choosing its candidate for naturalization after the first two imports—CJ Giles and Jamal Sampson—failed to meet expectations.

Should talks with Jones fall through, Toroman said former UCLA Bruin Michael Fey or former PBA import Earl Barron will be next in line.

Jones has been tallying 16.8 points, 15.4 rebounds and 1.9 shot blocks per game for the Austin Toros in the NBDL.

Highlights of NBA D-League top prospects Dwayne Jones

upload date: January 05, 2010

29 comments

Anonymous // March 1, 2010 8:34 AM

tingnan sana maiigi bka may attitude problem din ito. for unknown reasons, bigla na lang nya iniwan ang kanyang team na Serbian Red Star sa final stretch ng Belgrade Tournament. goodluck na lng
Anonymous // March 1, 2010 9:05 AM

hopefully he's the one!

a good inside player and a dominant bigman..

g0odluck Gilas team!
ping // March 1, 2010 9:18 AM

accdng to diff NBA forums:

Wizards are interested in Dwayne Jones...

sana Gilas pa din ang piliin nya...
Gilas RT // March 1, 2010 9:24 AM

Dwayne Jones latest update in NBDL (Feb 28)

Austin's Dwayne Jones earned another double-double with 23 points and 19 boards....
Anonymous // March 1, 2010 9:30 AM

Serbian Red Star nga iniwan, tayo pa kaya..well good luck, kala ko ba we are running out of time e bakit kelangan pa nating mag gamble kay jones e nandyan naman si fey. atleast dun wala tayong kaagaw.. if you are talking about long term pwede naman si fey, right now the way i see it we are wasting our time and money for jones. tapos in your face pa ang credentials nya na nang iiwan sa ere.. we are having the right decision, okay lang sana kung pera lang mawawala..but im pointing out the time na kung hindi si jones. gusto ko lang sana na lahat ng kelangan natin sa asian games na meron tayong import..

Don adolfo
Anonymous // March 1, 2010 9:46 AM

im just curious, why don't they get Dwayne Jones and Michael Fey at the same time. Sabay na sana para what ever happends merong reserve. This will push both to strive for a better showing. By next year pipiliin sa dalawa kung sino kailangan ng gilas. Also, magkakaroon ng compitition mga locals during practice for them to strive harder. Mr. Eala, Mr. Lime and Coach Toroman,consider bringing the two. Please show your commitment that you want to ensure the Olimpic goal. Bring the two. Kung may hindi mapili, baka pumayag ang Patriots sa ABA na kuning import. Basta may fall back tayo
Anonymous // March 1, 2010 10:02 AM

Dwayne Jones is D-Man!
He makes CJ Giles look like a whimp!
Anonymous // March 1, 2010 10:06 AM

I don't think you need too much offensive skills when you are a bullstrong, 6'11", almost 300 pounder. Besides Gilas is loaded with shooters from point guard to the power forward positions.
Anonymous // March 1, 2010 11:55 AM

i think he cant be push by a 7ft 300 pound korean centr
mico // March 1, 2010 12:29 PM

pwede na yan..kahit may attittude problems...
kailangan na nang gilas nang naturalized import asap....
Anonymous // March 1, 2010 12:36 PM

MICHAEL FEY NALANG, me attitude problem si jones. Same old story na naman yan si jones gaya sa 2. Basta defender at rebounder pede na un.
Anonymous // March 1, 2010 1:05 PM

hehe...tama hula ko sa susunod na import ng gilas....

"lbj"
(check out the older posts about a month ago and you'll see that I said dwayne jones should be the gilas import)
Anonymous // March 1, 2010 1:08 PM

Any person particularly Jones, if he signs the dotted line, surely will be a guy who loves the game so much that he is willing to change allegiance towards the Philippines.

A change in nationality is not an easy decision.
Anonymous // March 1, 2010 2:01 PM

attitude,,,,attitude,,,,attitude....dapat i consider.... baka bigla nalang yan aalis, kawawa naman smart gilas...
Anonymous // March 1, 2010 2:23 PM

if were demanding this kind of a player.. we need to top the offers of teams in the NBA.. which is i think IMO.. is not very easy.. in terms of MVP's budget..
GSP Pitbulls // March 1, 2010 2:37 PM

Anonymous // March 1, 2010 9:46 AM
=============================================

I agree, good point there.
Abu // March 1, 2010 3:07 PM

Basta may article dito ang Gilas, madami ang nagco comment, that shows na marami talagang fans na nag-aabang sa Gilas, not only sa Pinas, pati na rin sa labas ng bansa. Go Gilas.
RAGAZZO // March 1, 2010 3:13 PM

HINDI NAMAN YATA MAGALING SA DEPENSA AS CLAIMED BY TOROMAN ITONG SI DWAYNE JONES NA 'TO.

COPY-PASTE THE VIDEO BELOW

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECvSOfArAsI
Anonymous // March 1, 2010 4:08 PM

guys tandaan nyo sa nba initialy 10 day contract lng bnibigay pag d na impress ung team na kumuha sa isang player tulad ni jones d na marerenew.so ang usapan nlng dito ay long term career ba o take a chance sa nba.pero since d pa sya kinuha malamang mapapayag nila tong jones na to pag long term career piliin nya at the same time mlki privilege makukuha nya sa pinas
Anonymous // March 1, 2010 4:55 PM

tp_of bulacan... pno kya kng biglang offeran ng nba club yn kng keln mlpit n fiba asia,sna si cris alexander n lng good attitude kya p nya maglaro 5 to 6 years,ung import ng smb n si matskatskill 6'11 good atitude nba beteran ok dn un,importante ang atitude ksi bka kung keln mlpt n fiba biglang toyoin yn,at dapat 2 pra incasw n my injury my back up ung di mpipili dun isama s youth team dun s keefer ravena n mganda pinakita s youth team dapat idevelop n un long term ung team n un,lagyan ng isang naturalize big men,wa n ntn asahan ang mdamot n pba,hanggat wlang isang kagaya ni noli ayala n magiging comissioner dyan wg ntn asahan s international yn hindi ksi nila priority national team hndi kgaya ni noli ayala makabayan saludo kmi mga pba fans sau...mr barrios magbasa k ng blog ng malaan mo kagus2hn ng lhat ng pba fans ang gus2 nmin mkilala mga pba player hindi lng d2 kundi s buong mundo kya please iexpose mo pba s international tournament kylngan lng itelevise lhat ng game cgurado top s rating ang pba,mbabalik ang crispa toyota era pg ganun ung lhat ng bhay nkatutok s basketball pg dting ng gabi,1 good example many paquiao grabe nagaabang pag my laban si paquiao ksi bayan ang pinaglalaban,e kung ang kalaban nya kya kapwa pilipino s tingin nyo gnun kdami p dn ang manonood,gnun dn s basketball pg bayan ang pinaglalaban mas exited at sbik kming mga fans,sawa n kmi ng tayu tayo n lng plagi sna more game international,at s import sna unlimited height n pra matuto player ntin lumaban s mga 7 footer,pra di n gnun hirap mg adjust pg dting ng asian tournamnet
Anonymous // March 1, 2010 8:53 PM

i go for earl barron..
kc mas may karanasan na sya sa larong pang international at saka..stable na sya as a leader on court..

///coach marvz_eac brigadiers
Anonymous // March 1, 2010 9:25 PM

i think smart gilas found a good player in d jones.i don't think he will get a good offer from any nba teams anytime soon.sa tingin ko parang alanganin ang size niya sa position na nilalaro niya sa nba.mahigpit ang competetition.sakali man may kumuha baka hindi siya bigyan ng long term na contract.i'm sure he will do good playing for the philippines against players from asia.
Anonymous // March 2, 2010 2:39 AM

DAPAT SI GABE FREEMAN NA LNG..LEGITIMATE SCORER AT DEFENDER PA..MAGALING SA REBOUND AT MAASAHAN SA CRUNCH TIME..
Anonymous // March 2, 2010 5:18 AM

Si Dwayne Jones n lng kasi mas mukhang Filipino sya kaysa kay Michael Fey. kasi pag si Fey kinuha natin halatang Naturalized player kasi kano pag si Jones d gaano halata onti lng. Dapat ganito ang pag pili nila ng Naturalized player ehh. Si Earl Baron d pwede un mas masyado halatang imported. hahaha.
Anonymous // March 2, 2010 10:59 AM

Anonymous 2:39, pre style PBA nanaman yang iniisip mo. alam mo ba ang height ni freedomman?
Anonymous // March 2, 2010 12:41 PM

dapat lng n dlwa sna ang knin n mtnkd at isng point guard shooter tama lng c chris lutz dagdagan nlng d.jones at c townes para nmn my pplit d lng sakali mwla ng isa o injury ung isa big man.at yng sampo s orgnal all filipino smart gilas n ngloro s dobai salodo ako s tapang,gilas at dsipllina nlla..d kgya pnpdala pba panay kolelat,,,...ympactho
Anonymous // March 3, 2010 2:19 PM

sana nga he's the one for the team na para makumpleto na sila at magderederecho na ang laro nila as a TEAM. Hopefully he will love the Philippines and playing for the Pinoys. Goodluck Smart Gilas!
Anonymous // March 8, 2010 12:14 AM

ganda nung documentary the best proud to be filipino
gladys // March 8, 2010 12:14 AM

grabe kkaproud maging filipino dhil s pinapakita ng SMART GILAS the best!!!!!

Smart Gilas feels it has found ‘Mr. Right’

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