VIDEO | Grace Lee interviews members of SMART-Gilas Pilipinas

Source: http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/video-grace-lee-interviews-members-of-smart-gilas-pilipinas

Grace Lee chats with SMART-Gilas Pilipinas members Marcus Douthit, Sol Mercado, Enrico Villanueva, Gabe Norwood, LA Tenorio, and coach Chot Reyes in a fun feature for Good Morning Club.

SMART GILAS TRIBUTE VIDEOS

2012 Jones Cup Champions - Gilas Pilipinas HD

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7CnRumyKa8

‘Sakuragi’ in Japan? San Mig Coffee to allow Pingris to join SMART-Gilas — if he wants to

The management of San Mig Coffee (formerly the B-MEG Llamados) will allow star forward Marc Pingris to join the SMART-Gilas Pilipinas national team — if he wants to do it.

Team executive Rene Pardo told InterAKTV that the squad will not stand in the way of anyone joining the Philippine team, but said the decision rests on the player.

“As long as gusto ng player, then we will allow him to play for SMART-Gilas,” Pardo said in a telephone interview.

SMART-Gilas coach Chot Reyes, who said Pingris could play a key role for the team in the upcoming FIBA Asia Cup slated on September 14 to 22 in Tokyo, seemed thrilled by the idea of the man nicknamed Sakuragi’ joining the team in Japan.

“Game! All he needs is to sign letter of commitment and give it to me before Friday,” Reyes wrote in a text message to InterAKTV.

Pardo, however, voiced some concerns about Pingris’ condition.

“Pingris has not played since the Governors’ Cup championship and during that time, he was used in limited minutes because of his neck injury,” Pardo said. Pingris sustained a stiff neck injury in the finals after a hard foul by Ryan Arana, an ailment that caused him to miss a crucial game.

“I have a feeling na baka maka-disrupt siya sa team chemistry ng SMART-Gilas at hindi niya rin kilala yung mga kalaban niya doon sa Tokyo,” added Pardo, who also expressed surprise by Reyes’ desire to include Pingris in the lineup.

“The team has just won the championship in the Jones Cup, why fix it if ain’t broke?”

A response from Pingris, meanwhile, will have to wait, since he is currently abroad on vacation with his family in Singapore, according to Pardo.

Source: http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/sakuragi-in-japan-san-mig-coffee-to-allow-pingris-to-join-smart-gilas-if-he-wants-to

Ginebra sweetens pot in bid to acquire Casio

ACQUIRING Jayvee Casio would help Ginebra resolve another gnawing issue. That is, if Global Port bites the Kings’ latest offer.

A usually reliable Business Insight-Malaya source yesterday claimed Ginebra has spruced up its offer and is now dangling playmaker Mike Cortez and slotman Enrico Villanueva for the heady playmaker.

The proposal, added the insider, was presented to no less than Batang Pier owner Mikee Romero in a meeting last Tuesday but there was still no word whether the latter was amenable.

The Kings earlier offered Cortez and forward Willy Wilson for Casio, but Romero turned it down, purportedly wanting a real big man thrown in on the deal.

“Pursigido talaga ang Ginebra na matuloy ang trade kaya sa halip na si Wilson si Villanueva na ang isinasama,” said the source.

Unloading the California-born Cortez would ease Ginebra’s concerns about their glut of Fil-Am players.

Aside from Cortez, the Kings also boast Fil-Ams in Eric Menk, Rudy Hatfield and Wilson, aside from first round draft picks Chris Ellis and Keith Jensen.

Each team is only allowed five Fil-foreign players in their active roster.

“Malaking question nga iyan dahil hindi pa malaman kung sino ang ilalagay sa active at kung sino ang ibababa sa reserve,” noted the insider.

“Kaya depende lahat ‘yan sa kung ano ang kalalabasan ng proposed trade with Global Port. Worst case scenario, bababa ang isa. ”

Meralco, which tabbed Cliff Hodge and Kelly Nabong in the recent draft, is also beset with the same dilemma as it gears up for the PBA’s 38th season kicking off on Sept. 30.

Bolts coach Ryan Gregorio, however, said choosing who to drop from among Asi Taulava, Chris Ross, Sol Mercado, Chris Timberlake and his two draft picks is only a minor problem.

“We may have to relegate Timberlake,” said Gregorio. 

Ronjay Buenafe’s entry helps solve the question for Gregorio since the former can also play the guard spot. Buenafe formally became a Bolt yesterday when Commissioner Chito Salud approved the deal Meralco forged with Rain or Shine last Tuesday.

According to the trade terms, Rain or Shine, in return, got Meralco’s 2014 first round pick.

Source: Noli Cortez, Business Insight Malaya

REYES WANTS PINGRIS ON JAPAN-BOUND TEAM

SMART Gilas 2.0 coach Chot Reyes said James Yap, Arwind Santos, Marcio Lassiter and the other players from San Miguel-owned teams are welcome to rejoin the national team program, although they have t
o go through the selection process like everybody else.

All except one: Marc Pingris.

“Pumunta lang s’ya sa practice, tatanggapin ko na s’ya,” said Reyes of 

the San Mig Coffee (formerly B-Meg) power forward. “He’s the one player I need most in the team right now.”

Pingris and San Mig teammate Yap as well as Santos, Lassiter and Alex Cabagnot of Petron were among the players from the three teams under the SMC umbrella who were dropped from Reyes’ original pool after refusing to sign a letter of commitment with the Gilas program.

Only one player from SMC, Ginebra’s Enrico Villanueva, remained in the pool.

That has left Reyes no choice but to fill his 14-man lineup with second- and third-choice players from the pool for the Jones Cup campaign, where Gilas 2.0 beat formidable odds to clinch the country’s fourth title in the Taipei event and first in 14 years.

From the five, Santos and Lassiter have gone on record to say they are eager to rejoin the Gilas pool in separate interviews with Spin.ph.

Reyes has kept the door open for the five SMC players to rejoin the national pool as he and his coaching staff deliberate on the final lineup for the Fiba Asia Cup in Japan. The deadline for the submission of the teams’ 12-man lineups is on Friday.

“They’re all welcome,” Reyes told Spin.ph after a round of golf at Wack Wack in Mandaluyong City. “All they have to do is sign the letter of commitment, show up for practice then we’ll see.

“They’ll be part of the pool. But just like everyone else, they have to earn their spot.”

However, Reyes said Santos, Yap, Cabagnot and Lassiter may find it hard to regain their places in the lineup for the Japan tournament considering most of the pool members who stepped up and filled their spots gave a good account of themselves in the Jones Cup campaign.

“Maraming nag-step up, players like (Larry) Fonacier, LA Tenorio and (Sol) Mercado. Take the case of Sol. Papaano mo isisingit sina Cabagnot at Jayson Castro ngayon e ang ganda ng nilaro ni Sol. Papaano mo sila isisingit ngayon? Sino tatanggalin mo?” Reyes said.

There is also the danger of messing up the team chemistry, Reyes said.

"It's very rare that a hastily assembled team comes together like the team in Taipei," the Gilas coach said. "Paano mo ngayon bubulabugin ang chemistry. Mamaya, maglalagay ka ng ibang players d'yan, magaling nga pero masisira naman ang chemistry ng team."

Reyes said the tough-as-nails Pingris is a different case, only because he was the type of player Gilas needed – and missed – in Taipei.

“When Pingris backed out, his place was supposed to be taken by Japeth (Aguilar) but he, too, begged off. So napunta kay Jay-R Reyes,” he said. “But we can really use a guy like Pingris (in Japan). He’s one player who can guard all positions except center.”

Reyes said he expects to make between three to four changes – “Maximum na ang apat,” he said – to the Jones Cup-winning team when he submits his lineup for the Fiba Asia Cup.

“We’ll sit down and talk about it today and tomorrow, look at the stats, review the performances (in Taipei) then come up with a decision by Thursday night,” Reyes said.

Source: Spin.ph