Marcus Douthit eager to play for Gilas-Piipinas against the PBA All-Star in the annual event by Jay-R Bayon-on Marcus Douthit is the Gilas-Pilipinas naturalized player as of now as they await for the approval of the naturalization of NBA veteran Andray Blatche of the Brooklyn Nets. With this, Douthit will certainly play for Gilas in the upcoming PBA All-Star Game set in the first week of April. Douthit has been out of action since leading the Philippines to the gold medal in last year’s Southeast Asian Games. Which is why the 6-foot-10 center is itching to get back into action when the Gilas Pilipinas national team takes on a selection of PBA players in this year’s All-Star Game. “Last year, I sat out in the All-Star game, this time I’m going to play. I’m kinda thirsty to play. I’ve not been in active competition for the past six months, so I’m eager to play,” Douthit told InterAksyon. The long layoff has allowed Douthit to rest his body, as he took some time off to recuperate in the United States. “I worked on my conditioning while I was resting in the US for two months,” he added. “All the injuries that I had, I feel 100 percent, no aches, no pains.” Upon his return to the Philippines, Douthit worked his way back into shape by joining the practices of Meralco and Talk ‘N Text. “My trainer in the States came here and worked with me but had to go back to the States for the NCAA tournament. I feel good now and kinda eager to play,” he said. The national team has since begun practicing every Monday night, and Douthit says progress has been steady. “We’re doing good, we’re just having repetition of the stuff that we know. It’s doing good. Slowly but surely we’re rolling in. It’s hard because it’s the middle of the season,” said Douthit. Gilas is scheduled to represent the country in the FIBA Asia Cup, the FIBA Basketball World Cup, and the Asian Games basketball tournament. For Douthit, who has been part of the Gilas program since 2010, the opportunity to stay on is a blessing. “From Day One, when I first signed the contract, the expectations are very high. The program was new. A lot have been changed. Now, we got veteran players, older players. We got a whole new coaching staff. I’m still glad I’m still part of the situation,” he said. Gilas vs PBA All-Star The Philippine National team will tangle once again with the leagues best in the annual event. Gilas will be composed by its current training pool composed of the 12 players who were part of the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship line-up and three additional players. They are point guard Jimmy Mighty Mouse Alapag, Asias best point guard Jayson The Blur Castro, sweet-shooting Larry Baby-Baced Assasin Fonacier and all-around big man Ranidel Ocampo of Talk N Text; 2012 Jones Cup MVP Tenyente LA Tenorio and highlight-reel big man Japeth Aguilar of Ginebra; streak shooting Jeff Chan and dependable defender Gabe Norwood of Rain Or Shine; explosive guard Gary El Granada David of Meralco; hard-working pivot man Marc Pinoy Sakuragi Pingris of San Mig; Philippine Cups Best Player awardee Junemar The Kraken Fajardo of San Miguel and Douthit. They will be helped by new additions in bruising big man Beau Belga and playmaker Paul Angas ng Tondo Lee of Rain Or Shine along with former Gilas member and forward Jared The Daredevil Dillinger of Meralco. Marcio Lassiter and Greg Slaughter begged off to join the training pool but was incidentally chosen to be parts of the PBA All-Stars. Slaughter will be in the starting line up along with Philippine Cup Finals MVP and a former member of Gilas in Marc Coffee Prince Barocca and Big Game James Yap of San Mig. They will joined by Ginebras outside-inside combo of Mac Baracael, also a member of Gilas I, and defending slamdunk champion Chris Air Force Ellis as the first five. Lassiter will come off the bench along with high scoring guard Peter June The Scoring Apostle Simon and all-around big man Joe Devance o San Mig; reigning Most Valuable Player Arwind Spiderman Santos of San Miguel Beer ; last years Rookie of the Year Calvin Abueva and Sonny The Boss Thoss of Alaska and former slamdunk champion and marksman KG Canaleta of Talk N Text. Expect an all-out-war between the two teams as what we have witnessed in last years annual event. Gilas Pilipinas vs. PBA All-Stars Rosters Gilas Pilipinas Pos Player Team Starters G Jayson Castro Talk N Text G Gary David Meralco F Gabe Norwood Rain or Shine F Marc Pingris Talk N Text F/C Junmar Fajardo San Miguel Reserves G Jeff Chan Rain or Shine G Beau Belga Rain or Shine G Jimmy Alapag Talk N Text G Paul Lee Rain or Shine F Marc Pingris San Mig Super Coffee F Jared Dillinger Meralco F/C Japeth Aguilar Barangay Ginebra C Marcus Douthit none Head coach: Chot Reyes (National Team Coach) PBA All-Stars Pos Player Team No. of selections Votes Starters[3] G Mark Barroca San Mig Super Coffee 2 35,000 G James Yap San Mig Super Coffee 11 35,000 F Chris Ellis Barangay Ginebra 3 37,000 F Mac Baracael Barangay Ginebra 2 37,000 C Greg Slaughter Barangay Ginebra 1 39,000 Reserves G Peter June Simon San Mig Super Coffee 7 — G Marcio Lassiter San Miguel 2 — F Calvin Abueva Alaska 1 — F Joe Devance San Mig Super Coffee 5 — F Arwind Santos San Miguel 6 — F KG Canaleta Talk N Text 4 — C Sonny Thoss Alaska 1 — Head coach: Tim Cone (San Mig Super Coffee) - See more at: pinoystarnews/2014/03/marcus-douthit-eager-to-play-for-gilas.html#sthash.tWH1zbCt.dpuf
Posted on: Fri, 28 Mar 2014 03:48:29 +0000
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