Original Gilas team should go to Spain

When Greg Slaughter of Ginebra and Marcio Lassiter of San Miguel Beer begged off from joining the pool of aspirants for the Gilas Pilipinas national team to the World Cup in Spain and the Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea, most people concluded that they were told to do so by their mother ballclubs.

Both strongly stressed, however, that it was a personal decision and that San Miguel management had nothing to do with it.

PBA Media Bureau chief Willie Marcial confirmed that both decisions were purely personal and contrary to what others may believe, everyone who had any influence on Slaughter and Lassiter tried to convince them to play for Gilas.

“From PBA commissioner Chito Salud, to SMC head of basketball operations Robert Non, to SMC president/CEO Ramon S. Ang himself, we were all trying to convince them to reconsider,” said Marcial.

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Slaughter, the seven-foot Ginebra rookie, said he believes the 12-man lineup that gave the country a silver medal in the Fiba Asia Men’s Championship last August deserved to represent the country in the Fiba World Cup and the Asian Games in Incheon, Korea.

Lassiter, a Gilas veteran under Serbian coach Rajko Toroman, echoed the same sentiment.

He also complained of a recurring back problem resulting from  an old injury.

Slaughter, on the other hand, cited the need to develop his physique and improve his strength to enable him to take on the big men of the opposing teams.

“We talked to Greg, Mr. Ang also talked to him to join the national pool. He said he didn’t want to take the slot of somebody who has long played for Gilas,” explained Robert Non.

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A San Mig Coffee insider said James Yap had to wait for the PBA PLDT MyDSL Philippine Cup championship to be clinched before he could celebrate his birthday last Friday night at BGC.

“The celebration for James was actually threefold—his birthday, the San Mig championship  and the weekly visits to his son Bimby that had been awarded him.”

“This last item is something that he has long been praying for. James had not seen Bimby for several months since a permanent protection order was granted to his former spouse Kris Aquino.”

The insider observed that James has been opening himself up to the public.

“This was particularly evident when he and his Italian girlfriend sat for an interview with show biz television host Ricky Lo during his birthday party.

“James has also been posting more photos on Instagram, openly displaying his affection  for his Italian girlfriend,” the insider added.

“Well, I’m happy for him.”