MANILA, Philippines — After meeting last week with Serbian mentor Rajko Toroman, Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) President Manny V. Pangilinan is set to talk Wednesday with Marcus Douthit, the naturalized player of Smart-Gilas Pilipinas.
The 6-foot-11 Douthit’s contract with Gilas will end Nov. 30, and the SBP has included him in the lineup of the national team that will participate in Southeast Asian Games in Indonesia set Nov. 11 to 22.
Douthit’s meeting with Pangilinan will center on a possible contract extension as the telecommunications mogul already announced his plans to bankroll ‘Gilas 2’ that will compete in the 2013 FIBA-Asia Championship, the qualifier for the 2014 World Championship in Spain.
“That’s MVPs (Pangilinan) choice. Hopefully I’ll stay, me and my family, we feel comfortable here,” said Douthit, who helped the national team to a fourth placed finish – best in 24 years – in the last FIBA-Asia Championship in Wuhan, China.
Toroman, whose own contract with Gilas ended last Friday, said that Gilas should stick with Douthit since he has the “talent and right attitude.”
Douthit said that after his performance in Wuhan, where he torched Taiwan with 37 points and 10 rebounds in a quarterfinal win, gave him new opportunities to play in the pro leagues in South Korea and China.
There’s also the probability for him to see action – as an import – in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup, which allow teams to have unlimited height for reinforcements.
“I do want to play in the PBA. But nobody has asked me yet. I’ll come back after China and South Korea and I will be available for the Commissioner’s Cup,” said Douthit, who will leave for the US on Oct. 11 but will return Oct. 29.
Douthit and long-time partner Nina Purhenn are set to get married next month in the US. They already have a daughter, six-year-old Amaree.
PBA Commissioner Chito Salud already said that Douthit – should he decides to play in the league, his right will be raffled among the 10 competing teams – two of them owned by MVP – TNT and Meralco.
The 6-foot-11 Douthit’s contract with Gilas will end Nov. 30, and the SBP has included him in the lineup of the national team that will participate in Southeast Asian Games in Indonesia set Nov. 11 to 22.
Douthit’s meeting with Pangilinan will center on a possible contract extension as the telecommunications mogul already announced his plans to bankroll ‘Gilas 2’ that will compete in the 2013 FIBA-Asia Championship, the qualifier for the 2014 World Championship in Spain.
“That’s MVPs (Pangilinan) choice. Hopefully I’ll stay, me and my family, we feel comfortable here,” said Douthit, who helped the national team to a fourth placed finish – best in 24 years – in the last FIBA-Asia Championship in Wuhan, China.
Toroman, whose own contract with Gilas ended last Friday, said that Gilas should stick with Douthit since he has the “talent and right attitude.”
Douthit said that after his performance in Wuhan, where he torched Taiwan with 37 points and 10 rebounds in a quarterfinal win, gave him new opportunities to play in the pro leagues in South Korea and China.
There’s also the probability for him to see action – as an import – in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup, which allow teams to have unlimited height for reinforcements.
“I do want to play in the PBA. But nobody has asked me yet. I’ll come back after China and South Korea and I will be available for the Commissioner’s Cup,” said Douthit, who will leave for the US on Oct. 11 but will return Oct. 29.
Douthit and long-time partner Nina Purhenn are set to get married next month in the US. They already have a daughter, six-year-old Amaree.
PBA Commissioner Chito Salud already said that Douthit – should he decides to play in the league, his right will be raffled among the 10 competing teams – two of them owned by MVP – TNT and Meralco.