ALLAN THE MAN

Philippine national men’s basketball coach Chot Reyes will tap members of the SMART-Gilas Pilipinas cadet pool to join PBA players when the squad takes on the Shanghai Sharks.

The Philippines will play the Sharks, a Chinese Basketball Association club co-owned by former NBA star Yao Ming, in exhibition matches on May 6 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena and on May 7 at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.

Members of the senior pool from PBA clubs that are no longer in contention in the Commissioner’s Cup will banner the squad. Gabe Norwood and Jeff Chan of Rain or Shine, Gary David and Japeth Aguilar of GlobalPort, and June Mar Fajardo of Petron will be joined by senior pool members Marcus Douthit and Greg Slaughter.

Joining them are cadet players Kevin Alas, RR Garcia, Matthew Rosser Ganuelas, Jake Pascual, and Ronald Pascual.

Also part of the senior pool are Jimmy Alapag, Ryan Reyes, Larry Fonacier, Jayson Castro, and Ranidel De Ocampo of Talk ‘N Text, LA Tenorio of Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, Marc Pingris of San Mig Coffee, and Sonny Thoss of Alaska. All those teams are still involved in the semifinals of the ongoing PBA tournament.

Talk ‘N Text stars Kelly Williams and Jared Dillinger were also part of the senior pool, but have been ruled out because of illness and injury. The Philippines is expecting a tough challenge from the visitors during the games.

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