ALLAN THE MAN

Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes has until July 12 to decide whom to name in the national team’s 12-man lineup for the FIBA-Asia Championships here on Aug. 1-11. 

The deadline to submit a 24-man roster fell yesterday with Reyes listing Marcus Douthit, Jimmy Alapag, Jayson Castro, L. A. Tenorio, Ranidel de Ocampo, Larry Fonacier, Gabe Norwood, Gary David, Marc Pingris, JuneMar Fajardo, Jeff Chan, Japeth Aguilar, Beau Belga, Sonny Thoss, Greg Slaughter, Garvo Lanete, Jake Pascual, Ronald Pascual, R. R. Garcia, Matt Ganuelas, Kevin Alas, Ryan Reyes, Kelly Williams and Jared Dillinger.

SBP deputy executive director Bernie Atienza said the early deadline of June 17 was set to allow FIBA-Asia more time to scrutinize players’ eligibility particularly those with dual citizenships. There is no limit to enlisting double passport holders but FIBA-Asia permits each team to draft only one naturalized player.

FIBA-Asia will impose financial penalties on teams that failed to submit their 24-man lineups yesterday. The exceptions are the two Southeast Asian countries that will still be determined after the sub-zone qualifiers in Medan, Indonesia, on June 20-23. Vying for the two Southeast Asian tickets are Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. The top two finishers will draw lots to decide which group to join in the FIBA-Asia preliminary round. One slot is allotted for Group C with China, Korea and Iran while the other is in Group D with Kazakhstan, India and Bahrain. A special draw will be conducted to assign the groups for both Southeast Asian entries.

FIBA-Asia secretary-general Hagop Khajirian said a team that failed to submit its 24-man lineup yesterday will be subject to disciplinary sanctions and may lose its right to participate in the coming tournament. In that case, FIBA-Asia may invite another team to take over the slot. Aside from the lineup, each team must submit copies of every player’s passport.

Atienza said the next deadline is on July 12 or 20 days before the start of the competition for teams to turn in their 12-man rosters. “All the 12 names on the list of 12 players must be out of the list of 24 players presented to FIBA-Asia 45 days before the start of the championships,” said Khajirian. “The list is considered final as of the given deadline except that changes may be made after the deadline but no later than seven days before the start of the competition. Such a change or changes can be occurred for exceptional circumstances only and the national member federation involved will be subject to a fine as stipulated in FIBA-Asia internal regulations. Changes out of the list of 24 players are not allowed.”

Gilas arrives from training camp in Lithuania at noon today. With its invitation to compete at the Jones Cup in Taiwan revoked, Gilas is now lining up options to play friendlies or tournament-style games. There is a plan to play four or five games against NBA summer league or US NCAA teams in Las Vegas on July 4-11. An earlier plan to engage the Japanese national team in a series of tune-ups on June 27-July 1 was scuttled.

“We are working on a possible trip to the US, maybe from the first week of July to the second week and also possibly inviting the Wellington Saints with four New Zealand national players to come over to Manila for a best-of-three series after the US,” said Gilas team manager Butch Antonio. The Saints are coached by New Zealand basketball legend Pero Cameron whose mainstays include 6-11 Minnesota Timberwolves 2003 second round draft pick Rick Rickert, 6-6 Bryant Markson of the University of Utah, 6-8 US-New Zealander Casey Frank of Northern Arizona and 6-3 crack guard UK-New Zealander Lindsay Tait.

Antonio said the Lithuania camp was a huge success. “Throughout the trip, Chot conducted off-court activities that were focused on the players getting to know each other on a deeper personal basis,” he said. “From this, the boys developed trust in one another. With this trust, the team could then play instinctive basketball. Also from this trip, the new players learned to play the FIBA way of basketball, including the adjustment to officiating.”

Antonio said the participation of Lithuanian coach Kestutis Kemzura in the camp was a big boost. “Coach K, as we call him, is a great coach,” he said. “He was hands-on with the team during practices. He watched video with the coaches, rode with us in the bus, ate breakfast, lunch and dinner with us, attended team meetings and even sat on the bench during games and argued with the referees. He constantly reminded the team to pay particular attention to the little details. Coach K and Chot agreed on many things, the style of play to methods of teaching. He said he also learned from us.”

During the FIBA-Asia draw two weeks ago, Antonio said the entire team monitored developments as a group. “Chot was on the phone the whole time with Norman (Black) and Nash (Racela),” he said. “Choosing the group was well thought out. The boys are excited and positive. We chose the group that we think we have the chance of being No. 1 at the end of the first two rounds (entering the knockout quarterfinals).”

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