Taulava, Hontiveros rejoin Smart Gilas national five

MANILA—Meralco and Air21’s loss is the national team’s gain.

Asi Taulava and Dondon Hontiveros will return to the national team in time for the William Jones Cup in Taipei on Aug. 6 to 14 after their respective ballclubs didn’t make the playoffs of the season-ending conference.

“Yes, they would be joining the team,” said Smart Gilas coach Rajko Toroman of the 6-foot-9 Taulava and the sweet-shooting Hontiveros, who both helped the PH five to a semifinal finish in the Fiba Asia Champions Cup two month ago.

Taulava plays for the Meralco Bolts while Hontiveros is the designated marksman of the Air21 Express. Both teams bowed out of the six-team semifinals of the pro league.

The Nationals drew Jordan as their first assignment in the Jones Cup on Aug. 6 and United Arab Emirates the next day before taking a one-day rest in the tournament described by Toroman as the final test going to the Fiba Asia Championship.

Smart Gilas is scheduled to play six straight games after the break, facing South Korea, South Africa, Japan, Malaysia, Chinese Taipei and Fiba Asia champion Iran from Aug. 9 to 14. The team with best record in the nine-squad meet takes home the crown won by the Iranians the past two years.

Except for South Africa, all the national teams in the Jones Cup will see action in the Asian championship on Sept. 15 to 25 in Wuhan, China, and battle for the lone continental seat to the 2012 London Olympics.

“I saw the schedule. But it’s not really important. Our goal is to stay in shape and get more experience,” said Toroman.
“Jordan will be a big test for sure as well as other national teams in the tournament.”

Aside from Taulava, Hontiveros and Talk N Text’s Kelly Williams and Jimmy Alapag, Toroman has also asked for the services of Ranidel De Ocampo for the team’s bid in the Asian championship.

De Ocampo, TNT’s reliable operator at the post, will suit up for the Nationals in an exhibition game against NBA stars Kobe Bryant, Chris Paul and Derek Fisher on July 24 at the Araneta Coliseum but will skip the Jones Cup along with Alapag and Williams.

Other Smart Gilas players bound for Taipei are naturalized center Marcus Douthit, skipper Chris Tiu, co-captain Mark Barroca, JV Casio, Marcio Lassiter, Mac Baracael, Japeth Aguilar, Dylan Ababou, Jason Ballesteros and Chris Lutz.