INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines - CJ Giles packed his things on Monday and left for the United States.

Chances are, the 6-foot-11 former NBA draftee won?t be back.

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director Noli Eala confirmed Tuesday that Giles was removed from the national squad after failing to meet the expectations of the Smart Gilas Pilipinas National Team.

?After a long and thorough evaluation of CJ?s performance in the last month, it was our decision to pre-terminate his contract and cut him from Smart Gilas,?? said Eala.

Giles, who missed last Friday?s game against Sta. Lucia Realty due to a foot injury, was hired by the SBP as a candidate for naturalization. He signed a one-year pact, which includes housing and a car plus other perks and bonuses.

?The coaching staff felt that he has underperformed this last month due to lack of focus and various injuries,?? said Eala.

?His presence in the team no longer had a `positive influence? on his teammates and coaches,?? he added.

A team insider confirmed that Giles had an active nightlife that caused the foot injuries. ``Those injuries were triggered by lack of rest and focus,?? the source told the Inquirer.

The acquisition of Giles provided Smart Gilas with a steady presence in the paint. Sinewy but gifted with elongated limbs, Giles is an efficient shot-blocker, reliable rebounder and scores most of his points above the rim.

Talented but not the type the SBP would fight for to obtain a naturalized player for the 2011 Fiba-Asia Championship, the qualifying tournament to the 2012 London Olympics.

``We believe that CJ may not possess some of the qualifications which we are looking for in the player who will be bestowed citizenship by naturalization,?? said Eala.

``As we have always maintained, the SBP will not trifle or trivialize the naturalization process and only those truly deserving should be given the privilege and honor to play as a naturalized player for the country,?? added Eala.

Giles played as an import for Gilas during the Fiba-Asia Champions Cup where the Philippines finished fifth behind champion Iran, Jordan, Lebanon and Qatar.

So dominating was Giles in that tournament that the SBP and the Gilas coaching staff led by Serbian coach Rajko Toroman didn?t think twice on hiring him.

Injuries and a sick daughter back home, however, bugged Giles on the national team?s stint in the ongoing Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup.