PBA teams commit to lend at least one player each to SMART-Gilas for FIBA Asia

With the Philippines hosting the top Asian cage competition for the first time in 40 years, the PBA has stepped up its support for the SMART-Gilas Pilipinas national team that will compete in the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship. PBA commissioner Chito Salud said the league’s 10 teams have committed to lend at least one player apiece from their lineups for the national team. “If there will be teams which will lend more than one player, it will be welcomed,” said Salud, who has already informed Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas about the development. “The important thing right now, everybody’s on board.” The final roster decisions, however, would still lie with SMART-Gilas coach Chot Reyes. “We will do it as practical and in accordance to the requirements,” added Salud. SMART-Gilas is bankrolled by SBP president Manuel V. Pangilinan, who owns PBA teams Talk ‘N Text and Meralco. The telecommunications mogul earlier declared his wish to form the “best possible team” for the competition, adding that he was ready to lobby his fellow owners to allow top players to join the national squad. (InterAKTV is part of InterAksyon.com, the news website of TV5, which is chaired by Pangilinan.) The team has had difficulty securing commitment from top players, particularly those from teams owned by San Miguel Corporation. On Twitter, Reyes has repeatedly hinted that management of SMC has been barring players from joining the team.