Smart Gilas banners new ex-NBA recruits

By June Navarro
Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines – After dropping CJ Giles from the national team roster, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas wasted no time searching for somebody to fill the huge gap.

And soon as the 6-foot-11 former LA Lakers draftee boarded the plane bound for the United States, the Smart Gilas Pilipinas National Team has already picked former NBA players Jamal Sampson, Shaun Pruitt and Earl Barron Jr. as possible replacements.

From among the three candidates, SBP executive director Noli Eala said the 6-foot-11 Sampson, who played for five NBA ballclubs since 2002, would most likely make it.

“He’s available and interested,’’ Eala told the Inquirer. “He’s a legitimate NBA center and is probably the most versatile.’’

Selected in the second round and 46th overall in the 2002 NBA Draft by the Utah Jazz, Sampson belonged to a talented rookie class headed by top pick Yao Ming of the Houston Rockets, Phoenix’s Amare Stoudamire and Tayshaun Prince of Detroit, among others.

The Jazz traded Sampson, a cousin of 1983 NBA top pick Ralph Sampson, to the Orlando Magic before the 235-pound power forward-center landed to the Milwaukee Bucks where he spent most of his rookie season.

Sampson, 26, also played briefly for the Lakers, appearing in only 10 games, the Charlotte Bobcats, Sacramento Kings and the Denver Nuggets. He was waived by the Dallas Mavericks during the 2007-2008 season.

After playing 72 NBA games, the University of California-Berkeley alum posted career averages of 2.0 points, 3.4 rebounds, 0.4 blocks in 8.8 minutes per game.

Next on the priority list are the 6-foot-10 Pruitt, who had a short stint with the Golden State Warriors, and the 7-foot Barron, Red Bull’s import in the 2005 Philippine Basketball Association reinforced conference.

Pruitt, 24, played for the University of Illinois and registered 12.6 points and 7.3 rebounds throughout his entire collegiate career.

Undrafted in the NBA, Pruitt’s professional stint took off in the Czech Republic and China before the Warriors signed him up. He was released by the Warriors last month and temporarily hooked up with Peristeri BC in the A2 Ethniki (Greek league).

Barron was part of the 2006 NBA champions Miami Heat until 2008 before signing up a US$2-million, one-year deal with Italian club Fortitudo Bologna. He was waived by New Orleans Hornets last month.

Giles, who missed last Friday’s game against Sta. Lucia Realty due to a foot injury, signed a one-year pact, which includes housing and a car plus other perks and bonuses. Gilas has been seeing action in the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup as a guest squad.

``After a long and thorough evaluation of CJ’s performance in the last month, it was our decision to pre-terminate his contract and cut him from Smart Gilas,’’ said Eala.

``The coaching staff felt that he has underperformed this last month due to lack of focus and various injuries,’’ added Eala.

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It's good to know that the Smart Gilas management are constantly on the lookout for new talent such as these guys.