Lutz, Lassiter feel dejected over disqualification issue

WUHAN – Fil-Am players Marcio Lassiter and Chris Lutz just couldn’t hide their disappointment and frustration, unable to do here what they had worked hard for in over a year.

They’re confined to the bench because of a question on their eligibility raised only on the eve of the Fiba Asia Championship.

“It’s really upsetting. It doesn’t make any sense to me and Marcio,” said Lutz.

“We put a lot of work on this team. (To play here is the) basic reason why we’re brought to this team; to help this team come here to this exact tournament and help out in any way possible,” Lutz added. “It’s really frustrating for us watching the game against China. We’re losing and we can’t do anything.”

“We worked hard for this. We trained for a year. To have this – something thrown to your face – it hurts,” said Lassiter.

For the two, what hurts even more is that they can’t do anything about the matter.

Both born to Filipina mothers, the two are natural-born Filipinos under the Philippine Constitution.

“We have no control over it. I just hope that things get resolved so that we can play,” said Lassiter, a Cal-State at Fullerton product who’s the team’s most dependable player to man the wing.

“It’s not really in our hands. We can’t do too much about it. We’re hoping before the end of the tournament maybe things will change,” said Lutz, another dependable forward from Marshall U.

Both can’t wait to have their chance to play.

“This is the last tournament. We’ve got to give all that we have. I promise that if I get there, it will be a much different story. Hopefully we can contend for a medal,” said Lassiter.

The Wuhan meet is the last tournament for both players with Smart Gilas.

Lassiter and Lutz join Powerade and Petron, respectively, upon their return to Manila.