Injury-hit Gilas leaves for SEABA

MANILA, Philippines - A hurting, ailing Smart Gilas Pilipinas hopes to buck the odds as it vies for a FIBA-Asia Championship berth in the Southeast Asian Basketball Association Championship which fires off tomorrow in Jakarta.

Nationals coach Rajko Toroman said they’ll bring all 10 players initially listed, including injured JV Casio (foot), Japeth Aguilar (ankle), Chris Lutz (quadriceps), Dylan Ababou (fever) and more recently Marcio Lassiter (back), hoping they could recover during the four-day meet.

“Everybody is joining the team in Jakarta although we’re still evaluating if Marcio could make it,” said Toroman.

Prior to the team’s departure Tuesday night, Lassiter was included in the Jakarta roster but he sustained a back injury in the team’s recent practice.

“He’s not practicing because of the injury but we’ll see what happens there,” said Toroman.

Naturalized Marcus Douthit, who had an impressive stint in Smart Gilas’ fourth place finish in the recent Champions Cup, heads the cast that includes skipper Chris Tiu, Mark Barroca, Mac Baracael and Jason Ballesteros.

With half of the team injured, Toroman is expected to rely heavily on the 6-10 Douthit, Tiu, Baracael and Barroca.

The Filipinos will take the Malaysians tomorrow and then the host Indonesians the next day before capping its elimination round campaign against the Singaporeans on June 25.

The top two teams will dispute the crown on June 23 although the top three will gain slots in the FIBA-Asia meet slated Sept. 11-25 in China.

The Phl team will also miss the services of pros Asi Taulava of Meralco, Dondon Hontiveros of Air21 and Kelly Williams and Jimmy Alapag of Talk n Text and seven-footer Greg Slaughter and Aldrech Ramos.

Taulava, Hontiveros, Williams and Alapag will be out at least for a couple of months after opting to play for their mother clubs in the PBA while Slaughter and Ramos are suiting up for Ateneo and Far Eastern U, respectively, in the UAAP.

Joey Villar, Philippine Star