Gilas acquires Fil-Am Lutz, eyes Williams

Marshall University standout, Fil-American Chris Lutz, has agreed to play for the Smart-Gilas national developmental team. Smart-Gilas team captain Chris Tiu confirmed this through his Twitter account. Tiu and the rest of the squad are currently playing tune up matches in the United States against crack teams composed of NBA Draft prospects. Lutz, a 24-year-old combo guard, was the all-time leading scorer of his high school squad Trinity High before he went to Marshall University. This season, the 6-foot-3 Lutz averaged 8.7 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.5 assists while playing for the US NCAA Division I team. Talk N Text coach Chot Reyes, who personally saw Lutz played, believes he will be a vital cog for the national team aspirants. “I had the opportunity of seeing him play here. Smart-Gilas was playing tune up games against us and I was impressed with his versatility. He can shoot, can slash and plays with a lot of energy," said Reyes. Lutz, whose mother Luzviminda is Filipina and father Wayne is American, will arrive middle of this month. But Lutz may turn out to be just one of the few additions for Smart-Gilas, which wrapped up its US joust with a tough tune up match against the Impact All-Stars beefed up by Edgar Sosa and Lance Stephenson, two NBA draftees. The national team aspirants lost, 99-108. The All-Stars were bannered by Fil-Italian Chris Banchero, who finished with 22 points and four assists. Banchero, a 6-foot-1 guard, is also being seriously considered to be given a spot in the Smart-Gilas squad. Williams to the rescue? The name of Kelly Williams, 2007-2008 Most Valuable Player in the PBA, cropped up again. This after Sta. Lucia management, led by PBA board representative Buddy Encarnado, made it known his intentions of loaning Williams and former Rookie of the Year Ryan Reyes to the Nationals. A source, who requested anonymity told GMANews.TV that Williams and Reyes will most likely be traded to the Talk N Text Tropang Texters in exchange for some of the squad’s marquee players. “They should make it more enticing because we will unload our marquee players. But we’re doing this as our way of help to the national team," said Encarnado. “What do we get in return depends on them (Talk N Text and Smart-Gilas) because they’re the ones requesting for our players. They’re the ones who should offer us." Sta. Lucia coach Boyet Fernandez said that he has yet to talk to Encarnado regarding their team’s next plan. - Rey Joble, GMANews.TV