MANILA, Philippines (22nd FIBA Asia Champions Cup): Smart Gilas Pilipinas coach Rajko Toroman has to make do without the presence of PBA stars Jimmy Alapag (right in the combo pic above) and Kelly Williams for the 22nd FIBA Asia Champions Cup after the duo’s PBA franchisee Talk N Text sought to keep them in the “rest mode”.
The duo had spearheaded the Chot Reyes-coached franchisee to win the PBA Commissioner’s Cup in a draining Finals against Ginebra Kings, which ended only last Sunday.
“That’s (rest) more important. Besides, it will be hard for them to play with the other players with just little time of preparation,” Toroman was quoted as saying.
Alapag and Williams had been named earlier as a part of a PBA quartet to shore up the Smart Gilas who are looking for an impressive showing at home, as a part of their preparations for the 26th FIBA Asia Championship in Wuhan later this year.
Asi Taulava of Meralco Bolts and Dondon Hontiveros of Air21 Express have however started training with the Smart Gilas.
“Hontiveros is a great player, both good in defense and offence, and has a great personality. Taulava will be a good back up for Douthit,” Toroman had said in an interview to this website earlier this week. Click here for complete interview
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