Photo by PBA/Nuki Sabio
MANILA, Philippines—Naturalized center Marcus Douthit, Ateneo standouts Greg Slaughter and Kiefer Ravena, and Bobby Ray Parks Jr. headline the provisional 12-man lineup for the national basketball team seeing action in the Southeast Asian Games in November.
Crack guards RR Garcia of Far Eastern U and Ronald Pascual of San Sebastian, San Beda teammates Garvo Lanete and Jake Pascual, Ateneo’s Emman Monfort and Nico Salva, and Fil-Ams Clifford Hodge and Chris Ellis of PBA D-League champion NLEx Road Warriors are also on the roster submitted by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas to the Philippine Olympic Committee.
But SBP executive director Sonny Barrios, who announced the list at the PSA Forum yesterday, clarified that the lineup is still subject to changes.
“There is a possibility that we can add or drop from the team,” Barrios said at the weekly forum presented by Smart, Pagcor, Outlast Battery and Accel at Shakey’s UN Avenue.
“Nobody is casting anything in stone.”
Also among the candidates for the team that will be coached by Norman Black are Smart Gilas stalwart Chris Tiu, Aldrech Ramos, Calvin Abueva, Jerick Fortuna and Kevin Alas.
The Filipinos are the defending champions in the November 12 to 22 tournament after the team bannered by Gabe Norwood, Jason Castro, Jervy Cruz and Beau Belga bagged the crown in Thailand in 2007.
Barrios is also confident of a strong showing by the Filipinos in the Fiba Asia Championship.
Barrios said a top five finish by the Nationals will be “reasonable.”