Naturalized
Smart-Gilas monster Marcus Douthit is China-bound.
Which
is good... actually.
The
gigantic powerhouse will continue to learn the ways of Chinese basketball, and
Asian basketball in general, as he was signed to a five-month contract with the
Chinese Basketball Association’s Foshan
Dralions.
Question...
What
the hell is a dralion?
 |
| A dralion illustration. |
Anyway,
it was in China where Douthit impressed the Smart-Gilas officials and that led
to his eventual signing. This ended the long and tedious import search that
brought us CJ Giles and Jamal Sampson. I am looking forward in
seeing Douthit in action for the Nationals in 2012 to prepare for the 2013 FIBA-Asia Championship just like I
am bent to see Rajko Toroman donning
the Philippine colors at the sidelines. The 2011 stint ended up as
disappointing but it was enough to send the Philippines back to Asia’s elite.
If there is something good about the FIBA-Asia official Hagop, it’s that he is bent on taking out the fake players. Qatar was hit the worst in the last
staging and I’m guessing they need to produce new blood right now because five
Qataris with Brazilian heritages won’t cut it.
The
PBA will now offer their players readily but if I was the Smart-Gilas
management, I’m going to get the players that:
1 – A team that is at least 50
percent college and is 50 percent pro.
2 – A team that is 12-player
strong that has a key lineup for a particular country.
3 – A team that has a
go-to-scorer, a fearless operator, a long bomber, and a massive inside presence
that loves to operate on the post.
4 – A team that can train
regardless of time and place and management.
 |
| The Foshan Dralions logo |
Douthit
and Chris Tiu are the only ones
bound to return to the Nationals. Aldrech
Ramos and Greg Slaughter can
play for Smart-Gilas but they also have the freedom to go for the 2012 PBA Draft (Slaughter can also
return to Ateneo as well). Talk N Text have on their roster Jimmy Alapag and Jason Castro at the point spot, Jared Dillinger, Ranidel De Ocampo, and Kelly Williams at the
forward spot, and perhaps a mature Japeth
Aguilar at the center spot. Meralco on the other hand has perhaps an
improved version of Jason Ballesteros,
and the tag team of Solomon Mercado and
Mac Cardona. Asi Taulava has
retired from international play.
I
honestly think the lack of a go-to-guy in the shooting guard spot led to the
downfall of Team Pilipinas. This was seriously evident at the Korea match. Dondon Hontiveros who returned to the
San Miguel Corporation could have been a factor.
As for
the other teams, I’m sensing on paper they’ll agree to lend their players but
I’m hoping the SMC squads can lend their players especially with former SBP
head Noli Eala now manning the SMC forefront.
Good
luck to Marcus Douthit in Foshan. Apparently he will also be joined by NBA
lockout victim Tracy McGrady.
Just
do me a favor and whip the hell of those Denver
Nuggets players that if and when the NBA lockout ends will not play for
their respective teams because of the tied commitment they had with the CBA.
Yes
Douthit... show Wilson Chandler, JR
Smith, and Kenyon Martin the stuff that made you awesome.
Game
over.
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