No Gilas stint for Yap; Villanueva to join Llamados next week

Two-time Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Most Valuable Player (MVP) James Yap will beg off from joining the Smart-Gilas national developmental team in the Asian Games. That's because B-Meg Derby Ace will have a depleted lineup at the start of the league's 36th season on October 3. Defending Philippine Cup champion Derby Ace's title retention bid is in peril as the Llamados will miss the services of main frontliners Kerby Raymundo and Marc Pingris, who will undergo surgeries in the United States anytime soon. "I told Mr. (Rene) Pardo that it will be really difficult for us if we will allow James to play for Smart-Gilas in the Asian Games. We will already miss our two frontliners, so it will be a tough task for us to defend the crown," said Llamados coach Jorge Gallent. "Right now, we only have two big men in our team, Raffi Reavis and Jondan Salvador as Don Allado has yet to sign a contract because he’s in the United States while Romel Adducul's status remains up in the air because the team wants to have younger guys," he added. Yap is also vacationing in the United States and will most likely join the team's first full practice session two weeks from now. The 6-foot-2, reigning MVP, is one of those being requested by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) to join the national developmental team to the Guangzhou Asian Games along with two other former PBA MVPs, Asi Taulava and Kelly Williams. Taulava was already given the green light by his mother team, Powerade, while Williams, whose team Talk 'N Text is a sister company of Smart Communications, will most likely be allowed by his PBA ball club as well. Still, SBP's plan to reinforce the Rajko Toroman-mentored all-amateur national developmental squad with three professional players will need the PBA board's approval. Aside from being hard pressed to help his decimated squad, Yap is not keen on joining the national team aspirants as he will also attend to some personal issues. A close associate of Yap, who requested anonymity, said the cager is mandated to attend hearings on his marital problems with estranged wife, popular movie and television personality Kris Aquino, who is the youngest sister of President Noynoy Aquino. Gallent also said that Jonas Villanueva will join the squad next week and attend the September 9 practice. "We've talked on the phone," said Gallent. "He's still in the United States and he will arrive on September 8." Villanueva joins Derby Ace via a three-way trade involving San Miguel Beer and Air21. The Beermen will get Paul Artadi while the Express will secure a future second-round pick from the Llamados. The Express have yet to decide who to unload from a roster with excessive players. Among those players being considered include former Rookie of the Year winner Rich Alvarez and Wesley Gonzales, who are being used as trade baits, but might also be cut from the squad. "We have yet to finalize the player who will be involved in that trade," said Air21 team manager Allan Gregorio. "We have yet to discuss that." - JVP, GMANews.TV