SBP wants Douthit-led cadet squad in SEAG

Marcus Douthit . FILE PHOTO

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas said yesterday that Marcus Douthit could be tabbed for one more tour of duty this year: the Burma (Myanmar) Southeast Asian Games from Dec. 11 to 22.

“We’re looking at sending the cadet team together with Marcus as reinforcement,” said Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director Sonny Barrios.

Douthit was a main cog of the Gilas Pilipinas team that pocketed the silver medal in the recent 27th Fiba Asia Championship, where the Philippines booked one of three continental tickets at stake for 2014 Fiba World Cup.

“The cadet team with Marcus will be very competitive,” said Barrios.

According to Barrios, the chances adding PBA players to the mix are slim.

The former PBA commissioner explained that the commitment of the league has always been to help the national team on the Asian level or global scale and not in the biennial meet where the country always brings home the gold medal.

Philippine Sports Commission chair Richie Garcia wants PBA players forming the core of the SEA Games team.

Douthit also played with the cadet team that won the gold in the 2011 SEAG in Indonesia.