Some coaches threatened, some unfazed

COACHES are divided in their opinion on American CJ Giles playing for Smart Gilas in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup in October. Sta. Lucia’s Boyet Fernandez and Rain or Shine’s Caloy Garcia said Smart Gilas would have undue advantage with Giles around. Giles remains an American until after he is naturalized for him to be able to suit up for the national team.

“Helping the national team is fine with me,” Fernandez told the BusinessMirror on Wednesday. “But having an import, huwag na siguro. May bearing kasi, mahirap talaga kapag may import ang kalaban.”

Smart Gilas would be considered a regular team in the Philippine Cup, an all-Filipino conference. That means the national developmental team of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) could bring home the trophy if they top the tournament.

“Puwede sigurong sumali si Giles kapag may import na sa second conference,” added Fernandez, referring to the Fiesta Cup.

Garcia echoed Fernandez’s opinion and stressed Giles should only suit up in the Fiesta Cup.

But Siot Tanquingcen of San Miguel Beer and Jong Uichico of Barangay Ginebra see it otherwise.

“For me, okay lang. The more you increase the level of competition, the better it is for the teams, the league and the fans,” said Tanquingcen.

“I guess, it’s okay to help the country,” Uichico said.

Incoming board chairman Lito Alvarez of Burger King has earlier raised the issue about Giles’s citizenship and said he would ask his fellow governors to decide on it.

Giles, a six-foot-11 forward, is arriving on September 1. SBP has offered him a one-year contract to play for Smart Gilas in the 2011 International Basketball Federation (Fiba)-Asia qualifier.

Written by Joel Orellana

Source

If CJ Giles is naturalized then i'm all for it. If philippine big men want to improve, then they should accept this oppurtunity to play against Giles as a challenge.