Douthit gets fiba clearance to play for smart gilas-pilipinas
THE hobbling Philippine national squad got a recent boost. Sort of.
Marcus Douthit, already the team’s regular in interclub competitions, makes his international tournament debut in the Southeast Asian Basketball Association (Seaba) Men’s Championship in Jakarta.
Team officials bared on Wednesday the American, who was recently awarded Filipino citizenship, was cleared by basketball’s world-governing body Fiba to see action for the Philippines in international tournaments.
The 31-year-old product of Providence College has been playing for Smart Gilas-Pilipinas in interclub tournaments and local basketball officials were hoping to see him make his international debut last year in the Asian Games in Guangzhou.
But he had then yet to be confirmed a Filipino citizen, staving off a showdown with Asia’s best big men and leaving a young squad of collegiate stalwarts reinforced by a trio of professional cagers to carry the fight.
That team finished seventh.
Now Douthit, drafted 56th overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in 2004, tries to lift the Philippine squad in the four-nation tournament in Jakarta.
Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore are the competitors and while it is not exactly considered a tough tournament—the top three teams advance to the Fiba-Asia Men’s Championship—Douthit’s participation will provide a boost to an injury-riddled squad.
Shooting guard Marcio Lassiter hurt his back during a recent practice, JV Casio and Japeth Aguilar both have foot injuries, Chris Lutz is feeling pain in his quadriceps and Dylan Ababou just recovered from high fever.
Ateneo’s seven-foot center Greg Slaughter and six-foot-six Far Eastern University forward Aldrech Ramos are also skipping the event to focus on their mother squads’ participation in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines starting on July 9.
Seeing action for the Philippines in the Jakarta joust are skipper Chris Tiu, Mark Barocca, Mac Baracael and Jason Ballesteros.
Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director Renauld “Sonny” Barrios announced Douthit’s Fiba confirmation on Wednesday in Indonesia.
Ivanka Toteva, head of Fiba’s Sport and Eligibility Committee, confirmed in a letter to the SBP that Douthit is eligible to play for the Philippines upon receipt of the “the national status” of the player.
While the Jakarta stint is expected to be a light work, tougher battles are up ahead and Gilas will be getting the services of several players from the pro league as the team vies in the Fiba-Asia Men’s Championships, which offers one slot to the 2012 London Olympics.
“I’m glad to hear that. Now, I can really focus on helping the team without distractions,” said Douthit.
Barrios said the approval was expected because all pertinent documents attesting to Douthit being granted naturalization by President Aquino have been submitted to Fiba.
“It’s very timely for the Seaba,” Barrios said. “That’s one concern on our list, but all along we are confident because we complied with all the requirements of Fiba.”
The nationals were scheduled to play Malaysia on Thursday night at the BritAma Gym, Indonesia on Friday and Singapore on Saturday, with the top two teams disputing the title on Sunday.
