Douthit leads SEAG hopefuls

Marcus Douthit will spearhead the country’s gold-medal quest anew in basketball in the coming Southeast Asian Games.

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas submitted the names of Douthit and 49 other players from the collegiate ranks Monday to the Philippine Olympic Committee. The national team will defend the men’s basketball title in the Games set in Singapore on June 5 to 16.

The 6-foot-10 Douthit was part of the team composed of Gilas Pilipinas cadet members and top collegiate dribblers that captured the gold in the 2013 edition of the biennial meet held in Naypyitaw, Burma.

SBP executive director Sonny Barrios earlier said the national coach will have a say on the composition of the team.

UAAP champion coach Eric Altamirano of National University, NU sports director Junel Baculi, FEU’s Nash Racela, La Salle’s Juno Sauler and Jerry Codiñera of Arellano are the frontrunners for the head-coaching job.

Kobe Paras, Ray Parks, Garvo Lanete, Ateneo’s Kiefer Ravena, FEU’s Mike Tolomia, NCAA MVP Scottie Thompson of Perpetual, and La Salle’s Jeron Teng and Arnold Van Opstal head the list of basketball candidates