Smart Gilas 2 Jones Cup roster ; Danding's bro wants to help McGee naturalization

Source : AKTV
JONES CUP ROSTER

Just a few hours after the end of his last game with the Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters, Chot Reyes is already looking forward to his next challenge.



He is set to take over the SMART-Gilas Pilipinas national program full-time, and will helm the team in the annual William Jones Cup in Taipei, Taiwan next month.

Reyes and SMART-Gilas team manager Butch Antonio revealed the original composition of the team for the annual tournament, which would include PBA stars Jayson Castro, Ranidel De Ocampo, Larry Fonacier, Sonny Thoss, LA Tenorio, Mac Baracael, Jeff Chan, Gabe Norwood, Enrico Villanueva, Gary David, and Sol Mercado alongside naturalized center Marcus Douthit and former San Beda sharpshooter Garvo Lanete.

Conspicuously missing from the initial list are Talk ‘N Text players who are part of the pool Jimmy Alapag, Kelly Williams, Ryan Reyes, and Jared Dillinger, who are all battling an assortment of injuries. JVee Casio, another member of the pool, would not be available because he is planning to get married in the offseason.

Last year, SMART-Gilas, coached by Rajko Toroman and led by Douthit, finished third in the Jones Cup. The team played nine games in nine days, winning six, as part of its preparation for the 2011 FIBA Asia Championship.

MCGEE NATURALIZATION

Tarlac representative Henry Cojuangco wants to co-author the bill to naturalize Denver Nuggets center JaVale McGee to make him eligible to represent the Philippines in international play.

SMART-Gilas Pilipinas team manager Butch Antonio relayed the news late Wednesday.

Antipolo City representative Robbie Puno earlier filed House Bill 6169, which would make McGee a Filipino citizen. In his bill’s cover letter, Puno cited McGee’s “remarkable track record in the United States’ professional basketball scene” as consideration for his inclusion in the SMART-Gilas program.

Cojuangco is the younger brother of Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco, Jr., the chairman of San Miguel Corporation.

Interestingly, SMART-Gilas is bankrolled by businessman Manuel V. Pangilinan. The MVP group of companies is perceived to have a long-standing basketball rivalry with SMC.

(InterAKTV is part of InterAksyon.com, the online news portal of TV5, which is chaired by Pangilinan.)

The non-participation in SMART-Gilas of several players from PBA teams owned by SMC has touched a nerve among basketball fans. James Yap and Marc Pingris of B-MEG, and Arwind Santos, Alex Cabagnot, and Marcio Lassiter of Petron were all invited to be part of SMART-Gilas, but chose not to commit to the program. But a player from another SMC team, Enrico Villanueva, signed his letter of commitment to the pool.

While the elder Cojuangco remains chairman and chief executive officer of SMC, he recently sold his 20 percent interest in the conglomerate to company president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang. In a statement, the former ambassador said his divestment would allow him to pursue “personal endeavors.”