MANILA, Philippines - Bago pa man mapaso ang kontrata ni Marcus Douthit ay nakipagkasundo na ito sa Gilas Pilipinas para sa one-year contract-extension deal na sumiguro ng kanyang pananatili sa koponan lalo na’t magpupursigi ang National team na makalaro sa 2016 Olympics sa Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Nakipag-ayos si Douthit sa Gilas Pilipinas bago umalis sa Providence, Rhode Island para samahan ang Nationals sa kanilang kampanyang makopo ang gold medal sa Asian Games sa Incheon, Korea sa huling linggo ng buwang kasalukuyan.
Ang 6-foot-11 Los Angeles Lakers 2004 draftee, umuwi ng US mula sa Spain noong Sabado, ay inaasahang dumating sa bansa kagabi.
“We’ve had a meeting of minds (para sa bagong deal),” sabi ni Gilas team manager Aboy Castro. “We’ve had an agreement even before the decision for him to replace Andray Blatche (sa Asiad lineup) was made. Remember there’s a long list of tournaments we’re playing next year. There’s the SEABA, the SEA Games, maybe the Jones Cup and of course the Asian qualifier for the 2016 Olympics. He’s playing majority of those events.”
Sinabi pa ni Castro na hindi isyu kay Douthit na ginawa siyang last-minute replacement para sa tulad niyang natura-lized player na si Blatche na hindi pina-yagang lumaro sa Asian Games.
“He’s been with us all the way. He even mentored Dray on how to deal with everything in the World Cup. He’s there on the bench to coach Dray,” sabi ni Castro. “Like any other normal person, may dinamdam konti but he kept it to himself,” sabi pa ni Castro.
Si Douthit mismo ang nagsabi na handa siyang lumaro sakaling hindi palusutin ng Incheon Asian Games Organizing Committee si Blatche.
“I’ve been here since we started so I don’t see any reason why I won’t be ready,” sabi ni Douthit nang matapos ang World Cup Group B competition sa Seville, Spain noong nakaraang linggo. “I’ve been doing what’s everybody’s doing. I’m in shape.”