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PBA coaches pick Gilas as favorite in import-laden tilt


Guest team Smart Gilas will be one of the favorites in the shortened Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner's Cup.

Rajko Toroman
This is the consensus of coaches from regular competing squads in the league. "Of course, they will be competitive. Marcus Douthit is 6-foot-10 and will be the hands-down best center and most intimidating presence in the tournament. The locals have had tremendous basketball experience with their overseas battles and they have been together for more than two years now. They will contend and they will be hard to beat," said Meralco coach Ryan Gregorio. Douthit, the former Los Angeles Lakers draftee in the NBA, is the tallest player among the reinforcements seeing action in the Commissioner's Cup, which features imports not taller than 6-foot-4. But Douthit's case is special. He is already in the Smart Gilas' roster and he has played in several international tournaments for the national developmental squad, including the ongoing Dubai International Tournament. In fact, he is a candidate for naturalization.

All of a sudden, the guest team has become the strong contender because the team has the biggest import in Douthit. Sana nga ginawa na lang unlimited height ang imports because there's nobody who can match up against the size and heft of Douthit.
– Yeng Guiao, Rain or Shine coach
Douthit's presence is a clear advantage even against professional players, who may have more experience, but are definitely smaller than him. "Smart Gilas is easily installed as the favorite. All of a sudden, the guest team has become the strong contender because the team has the biggest import in Douthit. Sana nga ginawa na lang unlimited height ang imports because there's nobody who can match up against the size and heft of Douthit," said newly-installed Rain or Shine bench tactician Yeng Guiao. "For sure, they will be competitive. Having the tallest import would give them (Smart Gilas) an advantage because he could create lots of mismatches. Not all PBA teams in the PBA has big men," added Elasto Painters assistant mentor Caloy Garcia. Fellow PBA mentors Jong Uichico of Ginebra and Bong Ramos of Air21 also share the same opinion regarding Smart Gilas' chances in the PBA. "Definitely, teams will have a tough time beating them," said Uichico, when asked about the national developmental team's chances in the second conference. "Yes, they are competitive," added Ramos, who was tasked to handle the Express for the second time in seven years. For his part, Boyet Fernandez considers Smart Gilas' inclusion in the second conference as a big boost in its preparation for this year’s FIBA Asia Championship, the qualifying event for the 2012 London Olympics.
Smart Gilas import Marcus Douthit is expected to dominate in the PBA Commissioner's Cup.
"I believe they are competitive. It will be a great help in their preparation for a possible Olympic slot. This is for the country, so let's support them," said Fernandez, former champion coach of the defunct Sta. Lucia Realtors and now serving as one of Gregorio's assistant coaches in Meralco. For Alaska coach Tim Cone, "tough" is one word that best describes Smart Gilas. "I've heard there may be five PBA players to be lent to Smart Gilas in the second conference, but in any case, they will be really tough," said Cone, the winningest mentor among active coaches in the PBA. But PBA commissioner Atty. Chito Salud clarified the five players who will be loaned to Smart Gilas won't happen in the second conference, but rather in the national developmental team's campaign in major international tournaments in the near future. "No, they won't be loaned five PBA players in the second conference," Salud clarified. "They will submit their 14-man roster to us before the submission deadline for the second conference. The loaning of PBA players is for Smart Gilas' campaign in future international tournaments." - KY, JVP, GMANews.TV
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