MANILA—Asi Taulava of Meralco, Talk N Text’s Kelly Williams and Solomon Mercado of Rain Or Shine will take time off from their respective PBA ballclubs starting today to join the Smart Gilas RP team in the Guangzhou Asian Games.
The three PBA stars, loaned by the pro league to strengthen the rotation of the RP five, will miss two PBA games during the Nov. 12-27 Asiad.
Joining them is Talk N Text headcoach Chot Reyes, who was tapped by Smart Gilas mentor Rajko Toroman as assistant.
“We’re excited to have them, they can help us with their experience,” said Toroman, thankful for the three ballclubs and the PBA for lending their players.
The 6-foot-9 Taulava will be in his second Asian Games campaign after suiting up for the all-pro squad in the 2002 Busan Asiad while the 6-foot-7 Williams will don the national colors for the second time after playing for Reyes in the 2007 Fiba Asia Championship in Tokushima, Japan.
Mercado, a 6-foot explosive guard, is in his first stint for the Nationals, who are scheduled to leave tomorrow to play two tuneup games against the Guangdong Tigers (Nov. 10) and the Dongguan Leopards (Nov. 11) prior to the Nov. 13 opening of the basketball competitions.
“With these players around, we have a very good lineup and good rotation,” said Toroman.
A team made up mostly of former collegiate standouts, Smart Gilas also has skipper Chris Tiu, Mark Barroca, Mac Baracael, JV Casio, Dylan Ababou, Greg Slaughter, Jason Ballesteros and Filipino-foreign players Chris Lutz and Marcio Lassiter in the roster.
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