No pro stint yet for Gilas’ Chris Tiu

MANILA—While the prospect of turning pro seems tempting, the 6-foot shooting guard out of Ateneo said he wants to focus on the national team’s quest for a seat in the 2012 London Olympics.

“It’s hard to decide,” said Tiu, who led the Blue Eagles’ first of three consecutive championships in the UAAP in 2008.

“If the Gilas program continues until after the 2012 Olympics, I don’t mind staying on because it’s always my dream to play for the national team,” added Tiu, who is also a television host and part-time commercial model.

The PBA draft is two months away and Smart Gilas players headed by Tiu, JV Casio, Marcio Lassiter, Mac Baracael, Chris Lutz, Mark Barroca, Dylan Ababou, Jason Ballesteros are prime prospects if they decide to turn pro.

The Nationals are in the thick of preparation for the Fiba Asia Championship from Sept. 15 to 25 in Wuhan, China, where the champion books a ticket to London.

After finishing fourth in the Fiba Asia Champions Cup, Smart Gilas is scheduled to compete in the Southeast Asian Basketball Association Championship on June 23-26 in Jakarta before playing in a series of pocket tournaments in Turkey and Portugal next month.

Before Wuhan, Smart Gilas will also play in the Jones Cup in Taipei from Aug. 6 to 14 where some of the top countries in the Fiba Asia are set to participate.

“Our preparation is ultimately centered in the Fiba Asia Championship and we will need these tournaments to get more international experience and toughen up,” said Tiu, who added he also wants to join the national team in the 2011 Southeast Asian Games in Indonesia.

“If I don’t join the PBA, I’d love to also play in the SEA Games,” said Tiu. “But it depends if the SBP and coach Norman (Black) want me to be part of the team.”