Vic Manuel
MANILA, Philippines – A squad made up of select amateur players will don the country’s colors in the 2012 Southeast Asia Basketball Association (Seaba) championship this July.
No active players from the UAAP and the NCAA are joining the team, whose task is to top the tournament and qualify for the FIBA Stankovic Cup,
Cliff Hodge. Yudhi Mahatma/Antara photo
while the bulk are standouts from the PBA D-League who have yet to cross over to the pros.
This composition was announced by national team head coach Chot Reyes on his Twitter (@coachot) late Monday night, following a joint practice of the Seaba pool and the new Smart Gilas line-up.
Players like Kiefer Ravena, Ray Parks Jr., Calvin Abueva and Greg Slaughter won’t be available to play for the Philippines as the tournament, slated from July 3-7, coincides with the upcoming collegiate season.
Chris Tiu and Marcus Douthit, only holdovers from the original Smart Gilas, headline the roster along with Aldrech Ramos, who recently played in the Asean Basketball League, and Cliff Hodge, Best Player of the recent PBA D-League Conference.
Vic Manuel, one of the most dominant big men in the amateur ranks , also made it to the team along with Chris Ellis, Garvo Lanete, Emman Monfort, Borgie Hermida, Woody Co, and Dave Marcelo.
Reyes cleared, though, that this Seaba-bound team was not the same as the Cadet squad – also composed of top college players – which they were also planning to form.