PBA allows three stars to play for Asiad quint

BANGKOK—The Smart Gilas Pilipinas five can have Kelly Williams and Asi Taulava for its Asian Games campaign and a gunslinger, who will replace James Yap.

Acceding to national call yet again, the Philippine Basketball Association late Sunday night agreed to lend Williams 

and Taulava to the RP squad and allowed Smart-Gilas to directly negotiate with a shooter it wants, after Yap begged off. (See related story on A17)

“The board has given SBP the choice to fill up that (Yap) slot,” new commissioner Chito Salud told reporters close to midnight on Sunday, after the end of the marathon planning session with members of the league’s board.

Yap, who played in three international tournaments last year for the national team, is anticipating legal issues concerning his estrangement from the President’s sister, actress and celebrity endorser Kris Aquino.

Once the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas comes up with the name of the candidate, it will be allowed to talk 

directly to the player before asking his club’s permission.

The league’s go-signal will just be a formality once the first two requirements are met.

Salud and new chair Rene Pardo of Derby Ace have also been authorized to determine from the SBP the role of Asia’s first play-for-pay league in future international events to avoid disrupting the PBA schedule.

“The PBA wants a specific role and we could acquiesce if the SBP’s request is reasonable,” said Salud, whose proposed rules changes met little resistance from the team representatives during the meeting.

Salud said the league wants its participation in the RP squad to be limited to elite tournaments like the Asiad, the Olympics and world qualifiers.

After relaying the news to Manny V. Pangilinan, the TNT owner and benefactor of the Smart Gilas program, Talk ‘N 

Text representative Patrick Gregorio said Smart-Gilas head coach Rajko Toroman would come up with his choice this week.

The Asiad is scheduled Nov. 12 to 27 in Guangzhou, China, during the elimination round of the Philippine Cup that opens Oct. 3.