Gilas retains Douthit, Casio, Tiu, 2 Fil-Ams

MANILA, Philippines - Smart Gilas Pilipinas has named naturalized player Marcus Douthit, Chris Tiu, JV Casio, Chris Lutz and Marcio Lassiter as spearheads of the team seeking a berth in the 2014 FIBA World Championship.

The five make up the core of the team seeing action in the FIBA-Asia Championship slated Sept. 15-25 in Wuhan, China which stakes a lone berth in next year’s London Olympics.

“The players staying were already pin-pointed in that meeting and they are Tiu, Casio, Lutz, Lassiter and Douthit,” said a reliable source who requested anonymity.

But while Tiu decided to stick it out with Smart Gilas, Casio, who sat out the team’s last two games in the recent Jones Cup with a swollen left knee, has applied for the PBA rookie draft.

“After much prayer and consultation with family and friends, I have decided not to take part in the PBA draft this year,” said Tiu in a statement.

He added: “My dream has always been to represent our flag and country by competing in various international tournaments. Should management wish to invite me, it would be my privilege to continue with the Gilas national team program.”

Lutz and Lassiter, both Fil-Ams, had also submitted their draft application as early as late last month but can still pull out of the draft once they decide to stay in the program.

Aside from Casio, Dylan Ababou, Mark Barroca, Mac Baracael and Jason Ballesteros also applied for the draft, making them among the top prospects for the draft exercise set Aug. 28 in Robinson’s Place in Manila.

These Phl team players, together with top players from the PBA Developmental League, assure the league of a bumper crop of rookies next season.

A total of 36 players applied for the annual draft, with Cobra combo guard Paul Lee leading the list of applicants from the D-League.

The PBA Commissioner’s Office will go through the list before making the final draft pool on Aug. 26. The applicants have until such date to withdraw their application papers.

PBA officials are convinced they would have a deep pool, barring withdrawal by Smart Gilas players.

Casio and company have options to stick with Smart Gilas or move up to the pros.

Other top D-League players who applied for the draft are MVP winner Alein Maliksi, Pamboy Raymundo, Gerald Lapuz, Eric Salamat, Reil Cervantes, Magi Sison, Gilbert Bulawan, Paul Joseph Sorongan and Ariel Mepana.

Powerade owns the first pick in the coming Rookie Draft and the Tigers team intends to use it on either Casio or Lee.

Powerade picks first and fourth in the first round. Rain or Shine is second, Air21 third, Shopinas fifth, Alaska sixth and Petron either seventh or eighth, depending on its finish in the Governors Cup.

Ginebra is also either seventh or eighth, Talk n Text ninth and Air21 10th.

Joey Villar, Philippine Star