by Joey Villar | philstar.com

Smart Gilas Pilipinas is looking at two NBA veterans and a former PBA import as candidates for naturalization and replacement for Jamal Sampson, who failed to meet the team officials’ expectations.

Earl Barron, a member of the 2006 NBA champion Miami Heat who suited up for Red Bull years ago, has been considered for inclusion to beef up the Filipinos’ ambitious Olympic bid.

The seven-foot Barron has averaged an impressive 13.6 points and 8.9 rebounds for the Iowa Energy in the NBA’s developmental league, the NBDL and should be the best bet since he’s only 28 years old.

Smart Gilas’ Serbian coach Rajko Toroman is also considering the 6-11 Courtney Sims, a 26-year-old forward who normed 9.5 points and 5.5 rebounds for the University of Michigan Wolverines. He also played for the Indiana Pacers in the NBA two years ago.

Jameel Watkins, who suited up for Shell, has also been included in the short list of candidates.

Watkins churned out norms of 15.9 points, 10.1 caroms and 2.7 blocks in the current Chinese Basketball League season with the Jiangsu Dragons. But at 32, he could be too old for Smart Gilas, which is composed of the country’s top collegiate players.

Smart Gilas team manager Frankie Lim is currently in the US trying to arrange workout sessions with these three players with Toroman, who is expected to join Lim anytime this week.

The team has also tried out 6-10 Darian Townes.

Toroman, who steered Smart Gilas to a third place finish in the import-laden 21st Dubai Invitational despite playing practically all Filipino, said he is still weighing his options with regard to the selection of a naturalized import.

“I will look at all these players and see some more before we make a decision,” said Toroman.

*******
Courtney Sims' Professional career highlights: (via wikipedia)

Sims played briefly for the NBA's Indiana Pacers in 2007–08. Signed to a non-guaranteed contract after going undrafted, he appeared in only two games for the Pacers before being waived on December 4, 2007.

He was signed again on December 12, and waived again on December 19. Going scoreless in three total games, he had one rebound, one assist and committed two personal fouls in eleven minutes of action.

On February 25, 2008, Sims was acquired by the NBA Development League's Iowa Energy.

He played for the New Orleans Hornets during the 2008–09 NBA pre-season.

With the Energy, he registered a rare triple-double on November 28, 2008, in a 113–101 win over the Sioux Falls Skyforce with 22 points, 17 rebounds and 11 blocked shots.

On December 28, he scored a season-high 36 points, including 13 in the last quarter, to go along with 16 rebounds in a 107–101 victory over the Utah Flash.

On January 20, 2009, the Phoenix Suns officially announced they signed Sims to a 10-day contract.

He was signed to a second ten-day contract on February 14, but was released by the Arizona club upon the expiration of this contract, as the third would immediately mean his signing until the end of the season. Sims signed another ten-day contract on March 23, 2009, this time with the New York Knicks, and signed a second on April 2. On December 27 he was signed by CSKA Moscow until the end of season with a club option to terminate the contract after one-month trial period.

On January 12, 2010, Sims was replaced in CSKA's lineup by Pops Mensah-Bonsu

Earl Barron's Professional career highlights: (via wikipedia)

A 7'0" center from the University of Memphis, he was never drafted by an NBA team, and instead began his professional career with the Turkish team Tuborg Pilsener in 2003.

He spent the 2004 pre-season with the Orlando Magic, but was waived before the regular season began.

In 2005, he played with the Red Bull Thunder team in the Philippine Basketball Association. He also had several stints in the NBA Development League, and from 2005 to 2008, he played for the Miami Heat, with whom he earned an NBA Championship ring.

He then signed a one-year $2 million deal with the Italian team Fortitudo Bologna. On September 29, 2009, Barron was signed by New Orleans Hornets to their training camp. He was waived on October 21, 2009.

After signing with the Los Angeles D-Fenders of the D-League, he was traded to the Iowa Energy in November 2009.

Jameel Watkins: (via wikipedia)

Watkins made his Philippine Basketball Association debut for the Formula Shell. He is slated to play for the Magnolia Beverage Masters in the PBA 2007-2008 season.

Watkins then made his way to China. He now plays for the Jiangsu Dragons of CBA. He average 16 points, 10.2 rebounds an 2.8 blocks in 2008-09 season, and 15.9 points, 10.1 rebounds and 2.7 blocks in the recent 09-10 season.

*******

UPDATE (related news):
Reinforcement for Smart Gilas (click here)
3rd import for Smart Gilas in town (click here)
SBP wants Asian test for Smart Gilas five (click here)
SBP needs to touch base with PBA (click here)
Pro league execs: Smart Gilas doesn’t need PBA reinforcement (click here)
Sta. Lucia protests pressure from SBP (click here)
Toroman wants Williams to beef up Smart Gilas (click here)
Lim to US to find big man for Smart Gilas (click here)
Signing pros could be the solution (click here)
PBA teams still mum on lending players to Gilas (click here)
Gilas part ways with naturalized prospect Samspon (click here)
Smart Gilas 5 to go all-Filipino in Asiad? (click here)
Smart Gilas-RP five ready for Asiad, says Toroman (click here)
Smart Gilas has 80-game sked for Asian Games (click here)
Smart Gilas to play all-Filipino in Asiad (click here)


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source: Tito Talao | mb.com.ph

Like the noble captain of a doomed ship, Talk ’N Text team owner Manny V. Pangilinan waited until everyone aboard had been saved before quietly stepping off deck Sunday night.

With a small retinue of business associates, confidants and friends keeping him company, the telecommunications tycoon remained on his ringside seat for more than an hour after the lights had dimmed at the Araneta Coliseum, apparently waiting for the anguished feeling of defeat to pass over.

Eventually, the man majestically known as MVP made his way out through the Big Dome corridor, passing the Talk ’N Text locker room and looking straight ahead.

A lawyer associate inquired reverently if he could give a couple of waiting sportswriters a few minutes, and he stopped to oblige.

He was asked if he regrets walking out in Game 4.

“No, not all,” said the PLDT-Smart Communications chairman. “I thought it was the right decision under the circumstances.”

And his thoughts about Game 5?

“Ginebra played very well and they deserved to win,” Pangilinan said. “We didn’t play as well as we should have, pero ganoon talaga.”

What’s in store for the team in the next couple of weeks?

“We don’t know yet. We’ll probably evaluate the performance of everybody,” he said.

Would there be a top-to-bottom shakeup?

“Mahirap sabihin,” he said. “It’s difficult to say because it has just finished. But we’ll have to review the team’s performance.”

Asked whether Serbian coach Rajko Toroman, who handles the RP-Smart Gilas team, has anything to say about the game, Pangilinan said he hasn’t spoken with him.

Later that night, however, the TNT top brass, who apparently thought the question referred to coach Norman Black who did play-by-play analysis of Game 5 for Solar Sports TV, confirmed via text message, through Smart Sports’ Patrick Gregorio, that indeed “Coach Toroman and I chatted for a while right after the game.”

What it was about, MVP’s text didn’t say. And we didn’t ask.

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by Bill Velasco | philstar.com

Talk n Text head coach Chot Reyes has been through so many developments in basketball in the Philippines, he always offers a well-rounded perspective on questions regarding the sport.

Last night, the Phone Pals were in a dogfight, trying to oust Barangay Ginebra from the PBA Philippine Cup, results of which are already known. [Talk N' Text walk out in Game 4 (Video)]

“Obviously, we wanted to be in the top two, but we also realize that all the other teams, especially the San Miguel group, really bolstered their line-ups,” Reyes says. “That’s something that we have to be able to cope with. That’s why we find ourselves in the position we’re in.”

Reyes, whose management expertise augments his extremely successful coaching, looks back on the last few years in the PBA, characterized by ebbs and swells.

“It’s always been very, very competitive, and the past years were characterized by parity, where it was so hard from one game to another to figure out who was the favored team,” he points out. “This year, it’s still very competitive, but not like the previous years. If you look at the standings, there were four teams that were clearly below the others in the pack. It’s still a situation wherein, if you’re not ready, on any one night, some team can just upset you.”

Chot, once the point guard of the Ateneo Blue Eagles, analyzes what the PBA’s regular fare has to be to stay on top of the game.

“It always has to be a combination of a lot of things. The games must be exciting, which means the players must come out and play their best every night. We’re seeing that occurring largely, teams are going out and playing hard every night. It has to be in combination with creative marketing of the league. We have to find a way to reach our target audience.”

Reyes, who once helped manage the competitor Metropolitan Basketball Association, has also seen the emergence of other sports and the explosion of media that have undermined the league’s previously long-held and unchallenged position in the market. There are trends that are cresting that are now splitting the pie into even more slices.

“In this day and age, PBA is not the only sport people are interested in. There’s a lot of heretofore unknown sports, like mixed martial arts, or even poker. And you have the regular other sports that people watch, like golf and tennis and boxing on TV. So PBA is one of those sports,” Reyes begins. “But more than that, on a category basis, people don’t just look at sports; they look at other types of recreation. So many people now are into physical fitness. Instead of being at home watching TV, they’re in the gym running or playing badminton or doing something else. We are facing competition with the NBA. If you’re a basketball junkie, another alternative to the PBA is the NBA. So it’s a confluence of a lot of factors, really. One thing we in the PBA must do is constantly be aware of our responsibility in marketing the league. It’s not only the commissioner’s responsibility, it’s not only marketing’s responsibility or the TV station’s responsibility.”

The former national coach also has praised for the on-going efforts of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas to restore the country to its international prominence in the sport.

“It’s going very well. You’re seeing - for the first time - a real program. And by that, I mean, starting with the 16 and under team, now they’re putting the 18 and under team together, and then what I call the cadets program, and then the men’s elite program. So everything is in place. And the programs that the SBP are undertaking now really are the right direction.” But he offers this proviso. “We’re really going to see SMART-Gilas make a lot of headway and reap the successes of the past year. If there is something that they still need to get done, it’s to a lot more for grassroots development, especially in the provinces. I think the SBP should really spend a lot of time and energy in the provinces.”

As the SBP makes big strides in leading basketball outside the country, what then becomes the role of the PBA in developing national teams?

“The PBA should always been involved, in the sense that, when their services are needed, they should be willing to lend their players or coaches or whatever. They should still be prepared to lend their expertise,” Chot explains. “But in terms of really putting the program together and running it, PBA should not be involved, because the PBA has a completely different objective than the SBP.”

The full interview with Chot Reyes airs on SMART Ultimate Sports Barkada on the ABS-CBN News Channel today at 11:30 a.m. and on Sunday at 3:30 p.m.

[Talk N' Text walk out in Game 4 (click here to watch the Video)]

*******

UPDATE (related news):
Reinforcement for Smart Gilas (click here)
3rd import for Smart Gilas in town (click here)
SBP wants Asian test for Smart Gilas five (click here)
SBP needs to touch base with PBA (click here)
Pro league execs: Smart Gilas doesn’t need PBA reinforcement (click here)
Sta. Lucia protests pressure from SBP (click here)
Toroman wants Williams to beef up Smart Gilas (click here)
Lim to US to find big man for Smart Gilas (click here)
Signing pros could be the solution (click here)
PBA teams still mum on lending players to Gilas (click here)
Gilas part ways with naturalized prospect Samspon (click here)
Smart Gilas 5 to go all-Filipino in Asiad? (click here)
Smart Gilas-RP five ready for Asiad, says Toroman (click here)
Smart Gilas has 80-game sked for Asian Games (click here)
Smart Gilas to play all-Filipino in Asiad (click here)


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source: Cedelf P. Tupas | inquirer.net

Ginebra tied its best of 5 KFC PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinal series with Talk `N Text after the Tropang Texters walked out of game 4 at the Araneta Coliseum Friday.

Talk `N Text walked out with one minute left in the first quarter and Ginebra ahead 27-20 in protest of a flagrant foul 2 called on Ranidel de Ocampo, who committed a hard foul on Ginebra forward Ronald Tubid.

A flagrant foul 2 merits an ejection and an automatic one game suspension. The Tropang Texters lead the race-to-three affair, 2-1.

PBA Commissioner Sonny Barrios met with Talk ‘N Text team officials, led by Ricky Vargas, but failed to convince the team to go back and play. As a result, the game was forfeited in favor of Ginebra.

Talk `N Text's move marked the first time in 20 years that a PBA team walked out of a game. In the 1990 1st conference finals, Añejo also walked out in the second quarter of game 6, allowing Shell to clinch the series, 4-2.

UPDATE 1: TNT walks out to protest the calls/game. Official TNT has forfeited the game. Tied series. (via @PatriciaHizon)

UPDATE 2: Talk 'N Text Gov. Mr. Ricky Vargas "We have not made a decision if we'll play on Sunday"

UPDATE 3: League officials granted the win to Ginebra after ruling that Talk ‘N Text had already forfeited the game. The two teams are now tied at 2 games each in the best-of-five series. (via abs-cbnnews.com)

UPDATE 4: Fans are allowed ticket refunds before the start of the 2nd game according to Commissioner Barrios. (via @fmango)

UPDATE 5: MVP still in the locker room meeting with the coaching staff n management. Saw the memo pba just passed to TNT. Conference at 2pm tomorrow (via @PatriciaHizon)

UPDATE 6: click here for latest updates (video interviews and more...)

UPDATE 7: Fines await Texters for walking out of Kings, Official Statement of Ricky Vargas (click here)




[uploaded by castermhar]



TNT walks out of quarters match vs Gin Kings
source: abs-cbnnews.com

Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters walked out from their KFC PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinal match against Ginebra Gin Kings at the Araneta Coliseum on Friday.

According to ANC "Hardball" host Boyet Sison, the Tropang Texters squad walked off the court with over a minute left in the first quarter when Ranidel de Ocampo was ejected from the game for committing two flagrant fouls.“This is a very surprising development as it is a very, very exciting quarterfinal series for both teams,” said Sison.

The entire Talk ‘N Text team including team owner and telecommunications magnate Manny Pangilinan walked out of the game to protest “unfair officiating” in the game.

League officials granted the win to Ginebra after ruling that Talk ‘N Text had already forfeited the game. The two teams are now tied at 2 games each in the best-of-five series.

A similar case happened in the PBA in May 1990 when the Añejo team walked out in Game 6 of the 1st Conference Finals against Shell. They were slapped a huge fine of half a million pesos.

TNT coach cites the numbers
Talk ‘N Text coach Chot Reyes said that game statistics in their quarter final series with Ginebra clearly show that there was something wrong about the officiating.

“In the Talk ‘N Text-Ginebra series, Talk ‘N Text has taken 80 free throws… Ginebra has taken 126 free throws. They have taken almost 50 more free throws that we had in three games,” he said.

Reyes said that the numbers are questionable considering that most of Ginerbra’s shots were taken beyond the arc as opposed to scoring inside the paint where they could fish more fouls.

“Ginebra has taken 25 more three point shots in the three games… which means majority of the shots come from the three point line. In the first 12 minutes of this game (Game 4), they had already taken 14 free throws and they only took 6 attempts in the 2 point area. We attempted 20 times in the shaded lane and we were given 5 free throws… It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see the disparity,” he said.

Reyes said the second flagrant foul call against De Ocampo was the last straw. This, he said, prompted the team to walk out from the game.

Ginebra coach Jong Uichico merely shrugged off the walk out incident.

“We’ll take any win the way it is. If they give it to us by default, we’ll take it. We’re here to win,” he said.

With a report from Tony Velasquez, ABS-CBN News

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by Patricia Hizon | patriciahizon.blogspot.com

One of the prevailing issues enveloping the local basketball scene concerns the Smart Gilas squad’s need to get reinforcement for their formidable team.

Formidable for finishing 3rd in the 10-team 21st Dubai International Basketball Tournament armed with a great system, big hearts, awe-inspiring Filipino fans, and an import who contributed chump change.

New team manager Frankie Lim is currently hard at work touring the US to find a candidate for naturalization. Coach Rajko will be joining him next week. Some considerations include height and athleticism, high basketball IQ, ability to follow and stay within a system, willingness to relocate, good knees, good back (and being upfront about injuries), and a big heart. Big enough to love this basketball crazy country of ours.

As of now, there’s a shortlist of imports they are seriously considering. Last Wednesday, Darian Townes flew in to try out. He just played with the Utah Flash in the NBDL last December but only averaged 1 point and 28% FG in his 6 games there. He had a longer stint in Holland (yes Hollanders got game!) where he normed 10.4 ppg in 19.9 mins.

He’s 26, 6’10” and weighs about 240 lbs. He was a vital cog for the Arkansas Razorbacks, where he became part of the school’s all time blocked shots, 1,000 point club, and was part of the top 10 in rebounding. He’s been lauded for his ball handling ability and his proficiency in the paint. His competitive spirit will be tested by Coach Rajko in the next couple of days.

Remember Jameel Watkins? He played for Shell and Magnolia here, and was impressive in college playing for the Georgetown Hoyas in the NCAA Big East… in the 90s! He’s making waves in China and is part of the short list. He’s already 32 years old which may be an issue.

A younger dominant big man could be a better choice. How about 7’1” former Gin Kings and 2008 Best import Chris Alexander? According the Assistant Coach Allan Gregorio, Alexander is 30 now and in 2 years (Olympic year) he can still be ripe. “Coach Rajko has hard practices every night so age will be a factor. He has to be able to survive the hard practices”.

They’re also checking on Earl Barron Jr. who played for the Red Bull Thunders and went on to get an NBA Championship ring in his 3 year stint with the Miami Heat where he logged 82 games, started in 15 of them, had 13.9 minutes on average with 4.9ppg and 3rpg. He’s a year younger than Alexander but the evaluation of the two (and all the rest) will boil down to athleticism and efficacy in the system.

Despite the possibilities that are brewing, no one can blame Gilas for thinking that they might not need to go transcontinental to find another piece of the puzzle. Besides, they can only naturalize 1 import but will still need another big man. So they’ll need to go local for that. There are a plethora of great talents in the PBA who could fit the bill, and Kelly Williams is the top candidate for locally flavored reinforcement.

Earl Barron pours in 25 points to power the Energy past Bakersfield on the final day of the NBA D-League Showcase.


Chris Tiu and I talked about it but I guess it’s best to just share his text: “I think Kelly Williams will fit our team well because he’s a hardworking, physical, tough, athletic and smart player. I thought Coach Rajko’s wish to bring him on board was confidential but somehow it reached the sports columns which probably preempted talks with the PBA and caused some misunderstanding. But I’m sure there will be an official request coming and a solution will be worked out for the good of the country”.

Well, the boat has been rocked and Mr. Buddy Encarnado (and the PBA) has been vocal about his disappointment because this has wedged them between a rock and a hard place. Saying no to the offer could make them look unpatriotic, while agreeing to lend their MVP could dampen their chances in the next PBA conference.

When I asked Williams about it, of course he’s “flattered by the compliment of being touted by Coach Toroman” but also said it would be difficult for him to leave Sta. Lucia at this point. He loves his team and is aching to boost them after a shortened All Filipino stint.

Well, everyone just has the greatest of intentions and this spat is all just a misunderstanding. What’s more important is that the next couple of days will be crucial in terms of finding the right man or men for our national team. (From my Mla. Standard column 02/05/10)

by Patricia Hizon | patriciahizon.blogspot.com

follow Patricia Hizon on Twitter--> www.twitter.com/patriciahizon

*******

UPDATE (related news):
3rd import for Smart Gilas in town (click here)
SBP wants Asian test for Smart Gilas five (click here)
SBP needs to touch base with PBA (click here)
Pro league execs: Smart Gilas doesn’t need PBA reinforcement (click here)
Sta. Lucia protests pressure from SBP (click here)
Toroman wants Williams to beef up Smart Gilas (click here)
Lim to US to find big man for Smart Gilas (click here)
Signing pros could be the solution (click here)
PBA teams still mum on lending players to Gilas (click here)
Gilas part ways with naturalized prospect Samspon (click here)
Smart Gilas 5 to go all-Filipino in Asiad? (click here)
Smart Gilas-RP five ready for Asiad, says Toroman (click here)
Smart Gilas has 80-game sked for Asian Games (click here)
Smart Gilas to play all-Filipino in Asiad (click here)


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source: Joel Orellana | businessmirror.com.ph

Besided bagging the third-place trophy in the 21st Dubai International Basketball Tournament last month, Smart Gilas has also earned the organizers’ fancy and has been asked to return next month for a four-team tournament—all expenses paid.

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) executive director Noli Eala told the BusinessMirror on Wednesday that they have been invited to play in the Al Ahli Cup.

“They loved Gilas so much. The organizers have offered to pay for all expenses just so we can play versus three other teams there,” said Eala.

The Al Ahli Cup is slated from March 23 to 28 where Al Riyadi of Lebanon, Syria’s Al Jalaa and the national team of the United Arab Emirates will participate.

Smart Gilas, despite playing almost All-Filipino for most of the Dubai International, shocked the field with a gritty performance and landed in the top three of the 10-team tournament where most of the clubs fielded three imports.

Behind skipper Chris Tiu, JV Casio, Mac Baracael, Mark Barroca and Jason Ballesteros, the Philippine developmental squad managed to reach the semifinals and beat Syria’s Al Jalaa for third place with Jamal Sampson watching at the sidelines.

Sampson, the second American to be hired to beef up the squad, was eventually kicked out. Frankie Lim is currently in the United States looking for a replacement who can also be naturalized in time for the qualifying events for the 2012 London Olympics.

Eala said Gilas is supposed to compete in the Southeast Asian Basketball Association (Seaba) Champions Cup from March 3 to 7, but the SBP has not yet been informed if the tournament will push through.

The Seaba Champions Cup is a qualifying tournament for the International Basketball Federation (Fiba)-Asia Champions Cup from May 7 to 15 in Doha, Qatar. Last year Gilas finished fifth in the same tournament with CJ Giles, the team’s original pick to be its naturalized player, as its reinforcement.

With the Seaba joust on the brink of being canceled for the second-straight year, Eala said Gilas’ next commitment is an invitational tournament in Australia.

“We’re confirmed to play in Australia in March. We’ll play against the Perth Wildcats and we’re just awaiting two more teams,” he said.

In their Australia trip, Gilas is expected to have Filipino-American Chris Lutz, a six-foot-two shooting guard from Marshall University, in the lineup.

Gilas is also participating in the Stankovic Cup qualifier from April 2 to 6 and a series of exhibition games in Serbia in late April.

The squad will again train at the Joe Abunassar camp in Las Vegas this May, where they hope to find new Fil-Ams that could beef up the national team in time for the Asian Games in Guangzhou, China, in late November.

*******
UPDATE (related news):
3rd import for Smart Gilas in town (click here)
SBP wants Asian test for Smart Gilas five (click here)
SBP needs to touch base with PBA (click here)
Pro league execs: Smart Gilas doesn’t need PBA reinforcement (click here)
Sta. Lucia protests pressure from SBP (click here)
Toroman wants Williams to beef up Smart Gilas (click here)
Lim to US to find big man for Smart Gilas (click here)
Signing pros could be the solution (click here)
PBA teams still mum on lending players to Gilas (click here)
Gilas part ways with naturalized prospect Samspon (click here)
Smart Gilas 5 to go all-Filipino in Asiad? (click here)
Smart Gilas-RP five ready for Asiad, says Toroman (click here)
Smart Gilas has 80-game sked for Asian Games (click here)
Smart Gilas to play all-Filipino in Asiad (click here)


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source: Waylon Galvez | mb.com.ph

Former Arkansas Razorback player Darian Townes showed what determination and preservation are about as he traveled across the globe in the hope of impressing Serbian head coach Rajko Toroman and be a part of the Smart-Gilas national team.

The 6-foot-11 Townes hopes to secure “import” slot after the Nationals first two American players – CJ Giles and Jamal Sampson – were dropped from the team, one after the other because of poor performance and attitude problem.

With the help of ex-pro Ed Cordero, a try-out was arranged and Townes is set to meet Toroman at the Meralco Gym in Pasig City Thursday night.

Toroman will leave for the United States on Saturday to join Smart-Gilas team manager Frankie Lim to scout the prospect of imports to be included to the national team, which is preparing for the Asian Games in Guangzhou, China this year and the 2011 FIBA-Asia Championship, the qualifying event to the 2012 London Olympics.

Townes, 25, recently played for the Utah Flash in the NBA Developmental League. Though his career averages in the D-League are not as impressive — 5.7 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.1 shot blocks — his size can help the national team.

He also played professional basketball with the GasTerra Flames Groningen in Holland.

(click here for Darian Townes Complete Game Stats)

(click here for Darian Townes Draft Express Game Statistics)



Darian Townes (#14 - White Jersey) (20 points, 12 rebounds)


Strengths: Big power forward with good size and strength and a solid offensive game Very smooth shooting the ball from 12 feet and in with a jump hook shot that he uses effectively Has a big frame with long arms and good agility With more time on the floor, he could see his offensive numbers improve considerably His great wingspan makes him an effective rebounder and shot blocker Has a good free throw shot but lacks concentration, capable of shooting in the mid 70s if he works at it His post moves show promise, but he needs to refine them... [via nbadraft.net]

Weaknesses: Doesnt display a great motor. Needs to learn to play with a higher level of intensity to better maximize his talents Does not show a fondness for contact, despite his excellent body and apparent strength Needs to get more physical and use his 255 pound frame to dominate in the post Conditioning also must improve. He averaged just 22 minutes per game as a sophomore Lacks great speed in the open floor, looks a little stiff in transition His numbers actually dipped from his freshman to sophomore season after coming in with high expectations Doesnt get to the free throw line nearly enough for a post player, needs to force the issue under the basket more often Lack of foot speed limits his ability to grab rebounds out of his area.. [via nbadraft.net]

***

notes from the Las Vegas Summer League Day Six (July 2008)

Sacramento Kings

(Darian Townes: 14 Points, 4-7 FG, 6-11 FT, 6 Rebounds, 6 Fouls)

Townes had a breakout game today, using his physical assets to make an impact both offensively and defensively. While he may not have much in the way of skills, Townes has great size and strength. He won’t show much with his back to the basket, or from the midrange, but today he did a good job getting position underneath the basket and finding ways to get layups and trips to the foul line. Defensively, Townes showed good rebounding ability, but is still a work in progress defensively. He doesn’t show very good anticipation, making it hard for him to track down rebounds and block shots. His size makes him productive nonetheless, but he still has a long way to go. Raw big men usually struggle in this setting, getting taken advantage of by more skilled players, but Townes did a great job staying active today despite not getting many touches. He did some good for his stock overseas with this performance.

***

2007-08 Preview:
A key part of Arkansas’ front line in helping the Razorbacks win 20-plus games and earn NCAA Tournament bids each of the last two years, Townes will again see extensive playing time down low and compete for a starting spot. Townes enters his final season with 893 points and 451 rebounds. Already fourth on the school’s all-time blocked shot list (156), he needs 107 points to become the 31st member of Arkansas’ 1,000-point club and 158 rebounds to join the top 10 with 609. In the two exhibition games in Cancun over Labor Day weekend, he averaged 15.0 points and 7.0 rebounds while shooting 52 percent from the field.

2006-07:
Townes played in all 35 games with five starts, and was fifth on the team in scoring (8.1) and rebounding (4.3), and second in field goal percentage (.536, 118-220) and blocked shots (1.6), which ranked 10th in the SEC. In conference play, his averages improved to 8.9 points and 4.9 boards.

Against Texas Tech (12/16), he was 5-of-8 shooting for 10 points along with a game-high eight rebounds. At Texas (12/20), he had nine points, six rebounds and two blocked shots. He sprained an ankle in the Texas game and was limited to just four minutes against Oral Roberts (12/22) after not expecting to play at all. He had 12 points, five rebounds and three blocked shots against Louisiana Tech (12/30).
In the win over No. 8 Alabama (1/6), he had eight points and four blocked shots. Townes was tough inside at No. 2 Florida (1/9), going 8-of-13 from the floor, finishing with a double-double and game highs of 18 points and 10 rebounds.
At Ole Miss (1/13), he scored eight points on 3-of-5 shooting, and had five rebounds, two assists and two blocked shots. In the win over No. 16 LSU (1/20), he made 5-of-9 shots, and finished with 10 points, four rebounds and two blocked shots in 19 minutes.

2005-06:
Townes was fourth on the team in scoring (9.5), led the club and was 20th in the SEC in rebounding (5.1), was second on the team with a .500 field goal percentage (126-252), and second on the team and seventh in the conference with 1.63 blocked shots.

In league play, he averaged 8.8 points and 4.4 rebounds while still shooting 50 percent (61-122) and ranking 10th in the SEC with 1.38 blocked shots. He led the team in scoring twice and in rebounding 12 times, and was in double figures scoring 15 times.

Townes averaged 10.6 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.2 blocked shots in 16 home games while shooting .539 from the floor. He also averaged 10.5 points, 4.9 boards and 1.1 blocks in 15 games against post-season tournament teams.

He was listed as a pre-season All-SEC selection by CBSSportsline.com and Athlon, and as an SEC player on the rise by The Sporting News. Townes had 14 points on 7-of-10 shooting, eight rebounds and a career-high seven blocked shots in the opener against Portland State (11/18).

2004-05:
An honorable mention freshman All-American by Rivals.com and a member of the SEC’s all-freshman team, he got better as the season went on. He was second on the team in scoring (10.2), rebounding (4.6), shooting percentage (.519), free throw percentage (.698, players with a minimum of 45 attempts) and blocked shots (48). He tied for fourth in the SEC with 1.6 blocked shots per game. Among the league’s freshmen, he was fifth in scoring, sixth in rebounding, seventh in shooting percentage (second among players with more than 60 attempts), eighth in free throw percentage (among players with more than 50 attempts) and second to teammate Steven Hill in blocked shots. He led the team in scoring seven times, second-most on the team, led in rebounding five times and scored in double figures 17 times, which was also second on the club. His 17 double-figure scoring games tie for the fourth-most by a UA post player since 1995 and are the most for a Razorback since Derek Hood reached double-digits 26 times in 1999.

In High School:
He averaged 12.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 8.0 blocked shots a game at Hargrave. As a senior at Archbishop Carroll High in Washington, D.C., he averaged 13.8 points, 11.0 rebounds and 8.0 blocked shots. Following his senior season, he was rated the No. 59 overall prospect in the country by Hoop Scoop, No. 62 by TheInsidersHoops.com and No. 64 by FutureStars. As a sophomore, he set the Virginia state record of 187 blocked shots, breaking the previous mark held by Alonzo Mourning.

Personal:
Born July 31, 1984, he is the son of Youlanda Townes and John Deere. He is majoring in sociology.

*******

UPDATE (related news):
SBP wants Asian test for Smart Gilas five (click here)
SBP needs to touch base with PBA (click here)
Pro league execs: Smart Gilas doesn’t need PBA reinforcement (click here)
Sta. Lucia protests pressure from SBP (click here)
Toroman wants Williams to beef up Smart Gilas (click here)
Lim to US to find big man for Smart Gilas (click here)
Signing pros could be the solution (click here)
PBA teams still mum on lending players to Gilas (click here)
Gilas part ways with naturalized prospect Samspon (click here)
Smart Gilas 5 to go all-Filipino in Asiad? (click here)
Smart Gilas-RP five ready for Asiad, says Toroman (click here)
Smart Gilas has 80-game sked for Asian Games (click here)
Smart Gilas to play all-Filipino in Asiad (click here)


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source: Julius Manicad | tribune.net.ph

Kelly Williams is a handshake away from becoming a member of Smart Gilas Team Pilipinas, or so it seems.

Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) commissioner Sonny Barrios yesterday said transferring Williams to the national team is possible, but Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) should make a formal request and bring it before the PBA board of governors.

“It will all depend if and they make such a request and make a formal representation to the PBA board,” said Barrios, reacting to SBP project director Rajko Toroman’s appeal to enlist the 6-foot-7 versatile forward from Sta. Lucia Realty.

“We don’t know the parameters, yet. We have yet to see what they will lay on the table.”

SBP executive director Noli Eala, a former PBA commissioner, earlier said he will try to strike a deal with other PBA executives to formally transfer Williams from the professional league to the national squad. The PBA, after all, is a member of SBP and has been very supportive to the national team program.

“Getting Williams is something the coach believes will really make us consistent,” Eala said. “This is for the national team and we will share the honor with the entire country.”

But Barrios said unless SBP presents anything solid, the possible transfer of Williams remains in balance.

“They haven’t presented anything. It’s still an idea so we prefer not to speculate,” Barrios said.

Toroman, the brain behind Iran’s journey to the 2008 Beijing Olympics, said Williams’ mental toughness and inside presence will provide Gilas the much-needed boost in the 2011 Fiba-Asia Championship where a ticket to the 2012 London Olympics is at stake. So far, Toroman is waiting for Filipino-American gunner Chris Lutz (click here for Chris Lutz' stats) and an American import to finalize his roster. Gilas team manager Frankie Lim is already in the United States to scout for an American reinforcement for possible naturalization.

Chris Lutz (Marshall Thundering Herd)

(click here for Chris Lutz' complete game stats)

*******

SBP ADVISED TO FOLLOW PROTOCOL
by Josef T. Ramos | manilatimes.net

IF Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) is serious in tapping pro players, Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Chairman Lito Alvarez admonished SBP to follow protocol and communicate formally with PBA’s respective team officials. Instead of directly talking with media, Alvarez suggested SBP Executive Director Noli Eala should negotiate formally with team owners because if team owners refuse to lend their players, they can’t do anything about it.

“It’s all in the papers [newspapers],” aired Alvarez, also current team governor of Burger King. “There is no any written request if the SBP is requesting any possible PBA players to play with the Smart Gilas Pilipinas team.”

Based on PBA guidelines, team owners, governors and officials from the 10 teams have the sole right to their respective players if they will loan any of them to the national team.

A source, who refused to be named, said SBP high-ranking officials, led by President Manny V. Pangilinan, must be “organized in dealing with this delicate matter.”

Smart Gilas Serbian mentor Rajko Toroman was keen in tapping Sta. Lucia’s Kelly Williams, Rain or Shine’s Gabe Norwood and Talk ‘N Text’s Jared Dillinger to play for Smart Gilas in Guangzhou Asian Games.

Eala expressed the possibility of tapping PBA players or play all-Filipino in the Asian Games on November 12 to 27 this year after sending home ineffective Americans CJ Giles and Jamal Sampson, who were both candidates for naturalization before.

But there is no formal letter received yet by the PBA.

Coming from the pro league, Alvarez also said that Smart Gilas doesn’t need reinforcement.

“What they need right now is one dominant big man from fulfilling its goal in qualifying to the Olympics,” he said. “At the same time, they have their own system.”

Eala, on the other hand, said that newly appointed Smart Gilas team manager would go to US and look for another American big man to be naturalized in order to play for the national team in the future.

But the long process of naturalizing players may force Smart Gilas to play all-Filipino in the Asian Games.

*******

UPDATE (related news):
SBP wants Asian test for Smart Gilas five (click here)
SBP needs to touch base with PBA (click here)
Pro league execs: Smart Gilas doesn’t need PBA reinforcement (click here)
Sta. Lucia protests pressure from SBP (click here)
Toroman wants Williams to beef up Smart Gilas (click here)
Lim to US to find big man for Smart Gilas (click here)
Signing pros could be the solution (click here)
PBA teams still mum on lending players to Gilas (click here)
Gilas part ways with naturalized prospect Samspon (click here)
Smart Gilas 5 to go all-Filipino in Asiad? (click here)
Smart Gilas-RP five ready for Asiad, says Toroman (click here)
Smart Gilas has 80-game sked for Asian Games (click here)
Smart Gilas to play all-Filipino in Asiad (click here)


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source: June Navarro | inquirer.net

After checking out the field in the Middle East, the Smart Gilas Pilipinas national team now wants to size up Asian powerhouses China and Korea.

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director Noli Eala said Smart Gilas should now test its mettle against the Chinese and the Koreans to get a clear picture of the opposition in the Asian Games in November.

“At this point, it’s time for us to play against China and Korea, and probably Kazakhstan, because its important for our boys to take a mental note of these teams,” said Eala.

Smart Gilas held its own against the tough Middle East competition when it faced Lebanon, Jordan and Iran in the Fiba Champions Cup in Jakarta last year and the 21st Dubai International Tournament last month.

Teams in the Dubai tournament, where Smart Gilas copped the bronze medal at the expense of Syria’s Al Jalaa, were represented by national players with three imports.

“These teams are getting older and weaker going into the Fiba (Asia) Championships while we are getting stronger and stronger every day,” said Gilas coach Rajko Toroman.

Smart Gilas is preparing for the Asian Games in Guangzhou, China on Nov. 12 to 27 and the 2011 Fiba Asia Championship, which offers a single ticket to the 2012 London Olympics.

But Toroman said it’s not easy to arrange a date with the Chinese national squad even in an exhibition game.

“Based on my experience, the only time you get to play China is during the Fiba (Asia) Championships,” said Toroman, who steered Iran to the 2007 Fiba Asia crown on the way to its first Olympic stint in Beijing in 2008.

As for the core of the Korean and Kazakhstan national teams, Toroman said these countries usually join the annual Jones Cup in Taipei where Smart Gilas is also set to compete.

****

UPDATE (related news):
SBP needs to touch base with PBA (click here)
Pro league execs: Smart Gilas doesn’t need PBA reinforcement (click here)
Sta. Lucia protests pressure from SBP (click here)
Toroman wants Williams to beef up Smart Gilas (click here)
Lim to US to find big man for Smart Gilas (click here)
Signing pros could be the solution (click here)
PBA teams still mum on lending players to Gilas (click here)
Gilas part ways with naturalized prospect Samspon (click here)
Smart Gilas 5 to go all-Filipino in Asiad? (click here)
Smart Gilas-RP five ready for Asiad, says Toroman (click here)
Smart Gilas has 80-game sked for Asian Games (click here)
Smart Gilas to play all-Filipino in Asiad (click here)

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source: tribune.net.ph

Now that Smart Gilas Team Pilipinas is already familiar with Middle Eastern brand of basketball, it’s now time for it to take a closer look at two other major rivals — China and Korea.

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) executive director Noli Eala yesterday declared readiness to face the “real” Chinese and Korean national squads in preparation for the big-time tourmanents ahead.

“At this point, it’s time for us to play China and Korea, and probably Kazakhstan because this teams will be important for the boys to have a mental note on,” Eala said.

Fresh from a third-place finish in the prestigious 21st Dubai International Tournament — the toughest cage tourney in the Middle East — Gilas gained a good insight of Middle Eastern teams, giving them a good shot at winning against legitimate contenders like Iran, Jordan and Lebanon in the 2011 Fiba-Asia Championship which stakes a single ticket to the 2012 London Olympics.

“These teams are getting older and weaker going into the Fiba Championship while we get stronger and stronger everyday,” said SBP project director Rajko Toroman, who steered Iran to the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

“But based on my experience, the only time you get to play China is during the Fiba Championships. There’s no way for you to scout China, especially if you’re talking about its “real” national team.”

UPDATE (related news):
SBP needs to touch base with PBA (click here)
Pro league execs: Smart Gilas doesn’t need PBA reinforcement (click here)
Sta. Lucia protests pressure from SBP (click here)
Toroman wants Williams to beef up Smart Gilas (click here)
Lim to US to find big man for Smart Gilas (click here)
Signing pros could be the solution (click here)
PBA teams still mum on lending players to Gilas (click here)
Gilas part ways with naturalized prospect Samspon (click here)
Smart Gilas 5 to go all-Filipino in Asiad? (click here)
Smart Gilas-RP five ready for Asiad, says Toroman (click here)
Smart Gilas has 80-game sked for Asian Games (click here)
Smart Gilas to play all-Filipino in Asiad (click here)

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source: Beth Celis | inquirer.net

Buddy Encarnado, Sta. Lucia’s team manager and representative to the PBA board, and Raymond Yu of Rain or Shine must be wondering why no official of the Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas has bothered to touch base with either of them.

You see, according to the papers, the SBP is very keen on tapping the services of Sta. Lucia’s Kelly Williams and Rain or Shine’s Gabe Norwood for the Smart Gilas national team.

Smart Gilas is also looking at recruiting a third PBA cager—Jared Dillinger—but that should pose no problem since Talk ‘N Text is like a sister team of Smart Gilas.

PBA commissioner Sonny Barrios said the SBP should make formal its intent to enlist the three cagers.

* * *

Yesterday, I called Buddy to ask who decides when a PBA player is asked to suit up for the national team. Is it the mother squad or the PBA?

I was sure the approval of the mother team—in Kelly’s case, Sta. Lucia—had to be secured first by the SBP. And then, perhaps, the SBP will need the approval of the PBA board next.

Buddy corrected me. He said it requires only the mother team’s approval.

It was time to pop the question: Would he be willing to loan Kelly to the national team, despite the grand declaration of SBP executive director Noli Eala that Smart Gilas does not need the services of PBA cagers? And after Eala had mocked the Powerade-Pilipinas team Williams played for, the one that placed eighth in the 2009 Fiba-Asia Men’s Championship?

* * *

“First, I will need to know what tournament the SBP will be recruiting Kelly for, then I will need to know the date and duration of the tournament to determine if it will conflict with our schedule,” Buddy said.

“If schedules do not conflict, I go up to team owner Exie Robles to seek his blessing. If he says yes, then Kelly is free to join the national team,” said Buddy.

Of course, Buddy remembers Eala’s statements after the Fiba Asia, but the man is not one to hold grudges. Besides he may be persuaded by close PBA associates Ricky Vargas and Pato Gregorio to forgive and forget.

As for Elasto Painter Gabe Norwood, I asked Rain or Shine team owner Raymond Yu the same question I asked Buddy.

Would he be willing to lend Gabe to Smart Gilas? Gabe also played for Powerade Team Pilipinas in Tianjin.

Raymond’s answer was short and sweet: No questions asked, no conditions set.

“Oo (Yes), they need him,” he said.

UPDATE (related news):
Pro league execs: Smart Gilas doesn’t need PBA reinforcement (click here)
Sta. Lucia protests pressure from SBP (click here)
Toroman wants Williams to beef up Smart Gilas (click here)
Lim to US to find big man for Smart Gilas (click here)
Signing pros could be the solution (click here)
PBA teams still mum on lending players to Gilas (click here)
Gilas part ways with naturalized prospect Samspon (click here)
Smart Gilas 5 to go all-Filipino in Asiad? (click here)
Smart Gilas-RP five ready for Asiad, says Toroman (click here)
Smart Gilas has 80-game sked for Asian Games (click here)
Smart Gilas to play all-Filipino in Asiad (click here)

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source: Rey Joble | manilastandardtoday.com

Two high-ranking officials of the Philippine Basketball Association expressed confidence that the Smart-Gilas national developmental team has a better chance of making it to the Olympics, even without reinforcements from the pro league.

PBA commissioner Sonny Barrios and PBA chairman Lito Alvarez shared the view that the young Gilas squad, bankrolled by businessman/sportsman Manny V. Pangilinan, would only need additional big men to become more formidable against the new powerhouse squads in the region.

“I think they just need an American big man, who can patrol the shaded lane and they’re ready to go,” Alvarez told Standard Today. “Hindi na nila kakailanganin ang PBA players because the system is already in place.”

Barrios agreed with Alvarez’s assessment.

“Baka naman kasi kapag kumuha pa sila sa amin, imbes na makabuti, mapasama pa,” said Barrios. “Kasi nga naman, their players had already sacrificed a lot, tapos kung kukuha pa sila sa amin, baka sumama pa loob nila. Baka makaapekto pa sa team chemistry nila.”

The two PBA executives gave their opinion following reports that Smart-Gilas coach Rajko Toroman signified his intention of tapping Kelly Williams of Sta. Lucia, Jared Dillinger of Talk N Text and Gabe Norwood of Rain or Shine.

“I’d like to believe na publicity lang ’yun because the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas has not furnished us a request. If ever they’re serious about it, then they should formalize their request,” said Alvarez.

Barrios believes that the Smart-Gilas’ strong third-place finish in the Dubai International basketball tournament could be the determining factor as to how the team’s program will go.

“Maybe ’yung request nila asking the PBA to beef up their squad was few months ago, nu’ng hindi pa sila sumasabak sa tournament sa Middle East. I think ‘yung line of thinking nila is iba na at this time. They may have realized na kaya naman pala nila even without the PBA’s help,” added Barrios.

UPDATE (related news):
Pro league execs: Smart Gilas doesn’t need PBA reinforcement (click here)
Sta. Lucia protests pressure from SBP (click here)
Toroman wants Williams to beef up Smart Gilas (click here)
Lim to US to find big man for Smart Gilas (click here)
Signing pros could be the solution (click here)
PBA teams still mum on lending players to Gilas (click here)
Gilas part ways with naturalized prospect Samspon (click here)
Smart Gilas 5 to go all-Filipino in Asiad? (click here)
Smart Gilas-RP five ready for Asiad, says Toroman (click here)
Smart Gilas has 80-game sked for Asian Games (click here)
Smart Gilas to play all-Filipino in Asiad (click here)

ADD SmartGilas ON FACEBOOK:
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source: gmanews.tv

Smart Gilas Pilipinas, a team which held its own against the powerhouse squads in the Asian region, doesn’t need reinforcement from the Philippine Basketball Association, according to top executives of the pro league.

PBA chairman Lito Alvarez assessed that the RP development team is just “one dominant big man away" from fulfilling its goal of making the London Olympics.

“What they need is just an American big man who can patrol the shaded lane and they’re ready to go," Alvarez told GMANews.TV. “Hindi na nila kakailanganin ang PBA players because the system is already in place."

Smart Gilas is currently shopping around for an American center to naturalize after parting ways with first prospects CJ Giles and Jamaal Sampson.

PBA Commissioner Sonny Barrios practically shared the same view as Alvarez, adding the possibility of disrupting the Gilas players’ chemistry with the infusion of a pro cager.

“Baka naman kasi kapag kumuha pa sila sa amin, eh imbes na makabuti, mapasama pa," said Barrios. “Kasi nga naman, their players have already sacrificed a lot tapos kung kukuha pa sila sa amin, baka sumama pa loob nila, notwithstanding the fact na baka makaapekto sa team chemistry nila."

Prior to the team's campaign in the Middle East, Smart-Gilas coach Rajko Toroman expressed his intentions to tap the likes of Kelly Williams of Sta. Lucia, Jared Dillinger of Talk 'N Text and Gabe Norwood of Rain or Shine as possible reinforcement for his young troop.

But Barrios thinks that Smart-Gilas’ strong third-place finish in the Dubai International basketball tournament could be the determining factor as to how the team’s program will go.

“It might also leave a bad impression to their players na nagsasakripisyo na nang matagal if ever they will include PBA players. Maybe yung request nila asking the PBA to beef up their squad was a few months ago, noong hindi pa sila sumasabak sa tournament sa Middle East. I think yung line of thinking nila is iba na at this time," Barrios said.

For Alvarez, he doesn’t believe that Smart Gilas is seriously asking for reinforcement, especially when the pro league has yet to receive a formal request from the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas. The PBA is a stakeholder in the SBP.

“I’d like to believe na publicity lang yun because the SBP has not furnished us a request. If ever they’re serious about it, then they should formalize their request," Alvarez said. - GMANews.TV

UPDATE (related news):
Sta. Lucia protests pressure from SBP (click here)
Toroman wants Williams to beef up Smart Gilas (click here)
Lim to US to find big man for Smart Gilas (click here)
Signing pros could be the solution (click here)
PBA teams still mum on lending players to Gilas (click here)
Gilas part ways with naturalized prospect Samspon (click here)
Smart Gilas 5 to go all-Filipino in Asiad? (click here)
Smart Gilas-RP five ready for Asiad, says Toroman (click here)
Smart Gilas has 80-game sked for Asian Games (click here)
Smart Gilas to play all-Filipino in Asiad (click here)

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source: Waylon Galvez | mb.com.ph

Sta. Lucia Realty team PBA governor Buddy Encarnado said Monday he sympathizes with the plight of the Smart-Gilas national team but he questioned the way how the top executives of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) conveyed their message to the team regarding plans to recruit one of Sta. Lucia’s top players.

SBP executive director Noli Eala told reporters the other day that he and Gilas coach Rajko Toroman would like to have Realtor Kelly Williams to shore up the team when Gilas begins its international campaign this year.

According to Encarnado, while he understands the predicament of Gilas, he said that by coming out in public without formal discussion with them puts direct pressure on the team.

He said there are many things to consider before a deal can be made to allow the 6-foot-7 Williams to play for the national team.

“I will discuss this first with management and to Kelly. I want to know their (Gilas) schedule,” Encarnado said. “From there we can probably see kung pwede. We have to balance siyempre yung team and yung pagiging patriotic natin.”

While he is open to discussion he said that by going to the press, the team and management feel some pressure.

“I’ve never talked to him (Eala) or coach Toroman,” Encarnado told the Bulletin in a phone interview.

“They’re putting pressure on us. All off a sudden, here they are coming out in public. Ayoko man tingnan ng ganun, pero may pressure na agad e.”

“I don’t think they want to pressure us, but the method... they’re feeling the waters. They should sit down with us first. Hindi ganito,” he added.

As much as SLR wants to help the national team, there are things that should be considered, like the calendar of events the RP team will be competing should not be in conflict with that of the PBA schedule and the kind of tournaments Gilas will be joining.

Eala reportedly wants Williams for this year’s Asian Games and the FIBA-Asia Championship next year, the qualifying event for the 2012 London Olympics.

Encarnado also said that there is an existing agreement between the PBA and the SBP that the SBP will not get any player from the pro league for the national team.

UPDATE (related news):
Toroman wants Williams to beef up Smart Gilas (click here)
Lim to US to find big man for Smart Gilas (click here)
Signing pros could be the solution (click here)
PBA teams still mum on lending players to Gilas (click here)
Gilas part ways with naturalized prospect Samspon (click here)
Smart Gilas 5 to go all-Filipino in Asiad? (click here)
Smart Gilas-RP five ready for Asiad, says Toroman (click here)
Smart Gilas has 80-game sked for Asian Games (click here)
Smart Gilas to play all-Filipino in Asiad (click here)

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source: Joey Villar | philstar.com

Should Smart Gilas Pilipinas coach Rajko Toroman have a chance to pick a player from the pros, the Serbian would readily take in Filipino-American Kelly Williams.

Toroman said the high-leaping Williams, a former PBA MVP who plays for Sta. Lucia Realty, would help fill the need for a tough defensive player and additional inside threat against the taller, heftier teams in Asia.

“Kelly Williams is in my wish list and I would choose him if given a chance because we will need his rebounding and inside presence,’’ said Toroman, who recently steered Smart Gilas to a strong third place finish in the import-laced 21st Dubai Invitational.

“He will be good for us in the FIBA-Asia Championship,” he added.

Noli Eala, Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director, has called on the PBA to at least lend Williams for important tournaments like the Asian Games in Guangzhou, China this year and the FIBA-Asia Championship next year.

The FIBA-Asia Championship will stake one slot to the 2012 London Olympics.

“If it’s the wish of coach Rajko, we’ll work on it. This early, I’m already appealing to Sta. Lucia and PBA to help Smart Gilas,” said Eala, a former PBA commissioner.

Composed of the country’s finest collegiate players and a few Fil-Ams, Smart Gilas is tasked with the single goal of snaring the country’s first Olympic berth since the 1972 Munich Games.

Aside from Williams, Toroman is also expecting the arrival of Fil-foreigner Chris Lutz next month after the end of the US NCAA season.

“Getting him (Williams) is something coach Toroman believes can really make us consistent and tougher,’’ said Eala.

“There is no turf war here. This is the national team and we will share the honor with the entire country,’’ added Eala. “The PBA is a big part of the program and we hope the league can consider our desire to have Kelly.”

Eala hopes the PBA would give way.

Lim left for Los Angeles yesterday on a 12-day trip to find a replacement for Jamal Sampson, who was dropped from the roster after a disappointing stint in Dubai. Toroman will join him next week.


UPDATE (related news):
Sta. Lucia protests pressure from SBP (click here)
Lim to US to find big man for Smart Gilas (click here)
Signing pros could be the solution (click here)
PBA teams still mum on lending players to Gilas (click here)
Gilas part ways with naturalized prospect Samspon (click here)
Smart Gilas 5 to go all-Filipino in Asiad? (click here)
Smart Gilas-RP five ready for Asiad, says Toroman (click here)
Smart Gilas has 80-game sked for Asian Games (click here)
Smart Gilas to play all-Filipino in Asiad (click here)

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source: Julius Manicad | tribune.net.ph

National coach Rajko Toroman is keen on getting the services of Kelly Williams to reinforce Smart Gilas Team Pilipinas which is eyeing an Olympic berth in the 2011 Fiba-Asia Championship.

Brandishing a rare combination of speed, strength and leaping ability, Williams, a 6-foot-7 former PBA Most Valuable Player, is back in harness for the Realtors after a bout with a thrombocytopenia (low platelet count) last year. The Realtors were already eliminated in the ongoing PBA Philippine Cup.

Toroman said Williams’ energy and versatility could be a major boost to their campaign, especially in the upcoming Asian Games in Guangzhou and the Fiba-Asia Championship.

Apart from Williams, who was included on Toroman’s initial list of PBA standouts along with Arwind Santos, Jared Dillinger and Gabe Norwood, Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) is also looking at gunner Chris Lutz from Marshall University and an American reinforcement to complete the national roster.

Lutz is set to arrive next month after campaigning for the Thundering Herds in the Division I of the US NCAA while Smart Gilas team manager Frankie Lim is already in the United States to scout for a possible naturalization candidate. Gilas import, 6-foot-11 Jamal Sampson, was already released after posting a sour performance in the 21st Dubai International Tournament.

“Maybe we will need one player in the PBA and it will be Kelly Williams. He’s high on my wish list, but we will see,” said Toroman, the brain behind Iran’s return to the Olympics. “Kelly will give us toughness in rebounding that we don’t have. And he will be good for us in the Fiba-Asia Championship.”

SBP executive director Noli Eala, however, said he doesn’t see any major obstacle on the possible hiring of Williams. The PBA, after all, is in good standing with the SBP and has always been supportive of the national team program.

He added that he will work on Williams’ transfer as soon as possible.

“If he (Williams) is on the wish list of coach Rajko, we’ll have to work on it. And this early, we’re already making an appeal to the PBA,” said Eala, who led the PBA as a commissioner for four years.

“There’s no turf war here. This is the national team and we share that honor with the PBA, and the PBA is a big part of our program. We hope the PBA will consider our desire to have Kelly in Smart Gilas’ lineup.”

UPDATE (related news):
Sta. Lucia protests pressure from SBP (click here)
Lim to US to find big man for Smart Gilas (click here)
Signing pros could be the solution (click here)
PBA teams still mum on lending players to Gilas (click here)
Gilas part ways with naturalized prospect Samspon (click here)
Smart Gilas 5 to go all-Filipino in Asiad? (click here)
Smart Gilas-RP five ready for Asiad, says Toroman (click here)
Smart Gilas has 80-game sked for Asian Games (click here)
Smart Gilas to play all-Filipino in Asiad (click here)

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source: Beth Celis | inquirer.net

Remember CJ Giles, the 6-FOOT-11 Smart Gilas import with an attitude, who was being groomed for naturalization as a Filipino?

As you all know, he was dropped from the team some months back because he proved too difficult to handle. Giles was unheard of until the recent Dubai Cup where he scored 29 points for Lebanon to beat his former team Smart Gilas.

The other day, I had the opportunity to chat with Giles’ Lebanese coach, Fouad Abouchacra, who’s here in Manila on business and a little pleasure.

A guest of Sta. Lucia governor Buddy Encarnado, coach Fouad said he was very pleased with the performance of Giles, who was a head case during his brief stint in Manila.

“He’s a great player. We signed him up to a three-year contract,” said Fouad.

* * *

Was there a sudden transformation since Smart Gilas, I wondered.

“No, he’s still the same CJ Giles with problems and emotional baggage on and off the court. The key was to find the right way to handle him,” said Fouad.

Attention and repetition were basically the key words. The way I understood it, he was given as much attention as a baby requires, and the coach and manager have to be repetitive in expressing what they want out of him.

To ensure productivity, Fouad said Giles is closely monitored by his staff 24/7.

Giles’ new team Al Riyadi was runner-up to Iran in the Dubai Cup and is the current champion of Lebanon’s commercial league.

* * *

Fouad is in Manila to look for sports therapists who are interested to work in Lebanon, a small country in West Asia with a population of only three million.

He said he is also working out a program to bring young Lebanese cagers aged 10 to 18 years to the Philippines for an athletic tour which will include basketball clinics, a mini competition and an island tour, among others.

UPDATE (related news):
Lim to US to find big man for Smart Gilas (click here)
Signing pros could be the solution (click here)
PBA teams still mum on lending players to Gilas (click here)
Gilas part ways with naturalized prospect Samspon (click here)
Smart Gilas 5 to go all-Filipino in Asiad? (click here)
Smart Gilas-RP five ready for Asiad, says Toroman (click here)
Smart Gilas has 80-game sked for Asian Games (click here)
Smart Gilas to play all-Filipino in Asiad (click here)

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source: Joey Villar | philstar.com

Newly appointed Smart Gilas Pilipinas team manager Frankie Lim will leave for the United States tomorrow with the task of finding the right player that would address the team’s need for an inside presence.

“I will fly to the US on Monday to find the best big man available that would fit well to Smart Gilas,” said Lim, who was recently appointed by Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas to manage the national team.

Upon arrival in the US, Lim said he would talk to SBP’s contacts to set up some tryouts and scrimmages before Smart Gilas’ Serbian coach Rajko Toroman arrives the following week.

“Coach Rajko will join me next week when everything’s already arranged because we want him to personally choose the right man for the job,” said Lim.

SBP executive director Noli Eala earlier said they would drop Jamal Sampson as naturalization candidate after the 6-foot-11 behemoth failed to meet expectations.

Sampson, who replaced RP’s original choice CJ Giles late last year, would have been the player SBP wanted naturalized but he was often injured in Smart Gilas’ Gulf trip.

Sampson was particularly impressive when Smart Gilas split its pair of exhibition games with the Qatar national team in Doha before settling for cameo roles in the import-laden 21st Dubai Invitational where RP finished a strong third.

Lim said he hopes they could find the right player in the 12-day US trip, which might include trips not just to LA but also to some East Coast basketball hotbeds.

If not, Lim said they might just bring in a player or two to the Philippines and let them try out for the position.

“If we can find the player right away, it would be better. If not, maybe we’ll just bring players here to try out. We will do all the things we can to find the right player,” he said.

UPDATE (related news):
Signing pros could be the solution (click here)
PBA teams still mum on lending players to Gilas (click here)
Gilas part ways with naturalized prospect Samspon (click here)
Smart Gilas 5 to go all-Filipino in Asiad? (click here)
Smart Gilas-RP five ready for Asiad, says Toroman (click here)
Smart Gilas has 80-game sked for Asian Games (click here)
Smart Gilas to play all-Filipino in Asiad (click here)

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by Chris Tiu | chris-tiu.blogspot.com

It was my first time to step on Middle Eastern soil. After traveling for 9 hours, we landed at their international airport at around 5pm (10pm Manila time) and we were welcomed by the Philippine Basketball Association of Qatar.

Immediately, we checked in the Retaj Al Rayyan hotel to make it in time for practice at 8pm. I could literally feel my knees and muscles wobbling after the long trip but more so because of the time difference. It was as if we were playing at 1am Manila time.

The hotel was pretty new and quite spacious. Although no free wifi in the rooms, wifi was available for free at the lobby. We would have all our meals in one of the restaurants inside the hotel. Every meal was buffet style, eat-all-you-can. I loved the food there, Persian-Western fusion...

[CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE ARTICLE]
http://chris-tiu.blogspot.com/2010/01/middle-east-trip-part-1.html

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UPDATE (related news):
Signing pros could be the solution (click here)
PBA teams still mum on lending players to Gilas (click here)
Gilas part ways with naturalized prospect Samspon (click here)
Smart Gilas 5 to go all-Filipino in Asiad? (click here)
Smart Gilas-RP five ready for Asiad, says Toroman (click here)
Smart Gilas has 80-game sked for Asian Games (click here)
Smart Gilas to play all-Filipino in Asiad (click here)

SMART GILAS LATEST UPDATES:
[www.SmartGilas.com]
[www.SmartGilas.net]

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source: Joel Orellana | businessmirror.com.ph

As its problems in finding the right foreign reinforcement continue, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas is again looking into the possibility of getting the services of some of the players from the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) to beef up its core.

SBP executive director Noli Eala told the BusinessMirror on Thursday that Serbian coach Rajko Toroman is studying all options to make the national team more competitive, and one of the possible solutions is to seek assistance from the PBA.

“It is always an option to seek the best possible talent to make us win,” said Eala. “At the moment, we are happy with how the locals have developed and played.”

SBP is looking to sign up two PBA players to suit up for the Smart Gilas five, which saw action practically all-Filipino in the 21st Dubai International Basketball Tournament recently.

With American Jamal Sampson being fielded sparingly and even sitting out the team’s last two games due to what he claimed was a left-knee injury, the young members of the Philippine developmental team were left to carry the load but came up with a fine performance and finished third in the tough 10-team field.

Sampson, who earlier this week had been sent packing by the SBP, was the second American reinforcement hired by the Philippine squad after former Los Angeles Laker CJ Giles, who was also deemed unfit for the team.

The SBP will now continue to search for a player who could be naturalized in time for the 2011 International Basketball Federation (Fiba)-Asia Men’s Championship, a qualifier for the London Olympics the following year.

This means that Smart Gilas has to play all-Filipino in the coming Asian Games in Guangzhou, China, in November.

“We will continue evaluating the team and decide as we progress if there will be a need for one or two more players, including from the pros or Fil-Ams,” said Eala.

Toroman earlier said he would like to have Sta. Lucia Realty’s Kelly Williams, Gabe Norwood of Rain or Shine and Talk ‘N Text’s Jared Dillinger on his team but the SBP has yet to draft a formal request to the pro league.

UPDATE (related news):

PBA teams still mum on lending players to Gilas (click here)
Gilas part ways with naturalized prospect Samspon (click here)
Smart Gilas 5 to go all-Filipino in Asiad? (click here)
Smart Gilas-RP five ready for Asiad, says Toroman (click here)
Smart Gilas has 80-game sked for Asian Games (click here)
Smart Gilas to play all-Filipino in Asiad (click here)

ADD SmartGilas ON FACEBOOK:
www.facebook.com/SmartGilas

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