Smart Gilas wants more PBA players in Asiad pool

Satisfied with the Asi Taulava experiment, Smart Gilas Pilipinas now wants James Yap of B-Meg Derby Ace and San Miguel Beer’s Arwind Santos to join the squad.   Smart Gilas manager Frankie Lim said they will ask the PBA to lend Yap, the sweet-shooting reigning MVP, and Santos, the reedy, versatile forward, for the Guangzhou Asian Games in November.   The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas submitted a 15-man lineup to the Philippine Olympic Committee last week, which included PBA players Kelly Williams, Ryan Reyes, Ranidel De Ocampo and Taulava.   Yap and Santos are being eyed to address RP coach Rajko Toroman’s need for another shooter and a wing defender.   Toroman was pleased with the 6-foot-9 Taulava, who helped Smart Gilas to a fourth-place finish in the recent Fiba Asia Stankovic Cup in Beirut, Lebanon.   Despite the possible entry of more PBA players, Lim said they would still keep the Smart Gilas core of amateur standouts, which were handpicked late 2008.   Team captain Chris Tiu, co-skipper Mark Barroca, JV Casio, Mac Baracael, Dylan Ababou, Japeth Aguilar, Jason Ballesteros, Aldrech Ramos, JR Cawaling, Greg Slaughter and Marcio Lassiter form the core of the 15-man roster to the Asiad.   Smart Sports head Pato Gregorio said the SBP will sit down with the PBA this week to discuss the availability of the PBA players. Lim said they will also gauge the pro players’ level of interest.   Lim added the coaching staff could add more PBA players to the initial 15-man roster prior to the Sept. 15 deadline for submission of entries set by Asiad organizers.   Also part of the team are naturalization candidate Marcus Douthit and Chris Lutz, who both have yet to secure their Philippine passports to make themselves eligible for the Nov. 12 to 27 Asiad.