Three Aces to reinforce SEABA Phl team

Manila, Philippines -  With the early exit of their team in the PBA Governors Cup, Sonny Thoss, LA Tenorio and Mac Baracael have been tapped to reinforce the Smart Gilas select team competing in the SEABA Men’s Championship slated July 3-7 in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

The three Alaska Milk stars will backstop the lineup that also includes Marcus Douthit, Aldrech Ramos, Garvo Lanete, Woody Co, Chris Tiu, Eman Monfort and Borgie Hermida.

Fil-Am players Cliff Hodge, Chris Ellis and Vic Manuel were dropped from the roster.

Smart Gilas coach Chot Reyes opted not to take a risk on the Fil-Ams as they might face similar eligibility problems encountered by Marcio Lassiter and Chris Lutz in the 2011 FIBA Asia Championship in Wuhan, China.

Manuel was dismissed for not showing up in their practices.

With no more place in the national pool, Hodge and Ellis, key players by the NLEX Road Warriors in the PBA D-League, are expected to join the coming PBA Rookie Draft.

“I will recommend that they join the draft,” said Reyes of the Fil-Ams who’d been religiously practicing with the national pool until yesterday.

The Smart Gilas coaching staff finalized the SEABA-bound Phl roster yesterday after Alaska Milk and the PBA board approved the participation of Thoss, Tenorio and Baracael.

“A big thanks to Alaska and the PBA board, we’ve now got a fighting team,” said Reyes.

Thoss, Tenorio and Baracael have been practicing with the pool, being among the PBA stars earlier named to the Smart Gilas elite roster.

“The original understanding really is if there’s no conflict in the PBA schedule and if the players are willing to play, then they can be tapped for duty,” said Reyes.

The Phl team leaves for Thailand on Sunday. The Thailand joust serves as the qualifier for the Stankovic Cup in Tokyo late this year.

The Smart Gilas elite squad, the team being prepared for the 2013 FIBA Asia championship, is to play in the Stankovic Cup.