Smart Gilas Pilipinas line-up to the Asian Games submitted

The SBP beat the 24-second shot clock and finally submitted the line-up of Smart Gilas Pilipinas to the Philippine Olympic Committee office yesterday. This is compliance with the rules for the 16th Asian Games in Gunagzhou, China that will be played later this year. 

Included in the roster are co-captains Chris Tiu and Mark Barroca, Dylan Ababou, Japeth Aguilar, Jason Ballesteros, Mac Baracael, Jayvee Casio, Marcio Lassiter, Aldrech Ramos, Greg Slaughter, and PBA players Asi Taulava, and Kelly Williams. Chris Lutz and naturalization candidate Marcus Douthit were not included pending the approval of their papers. They can still be added in time for the Asian Games.

Now a team can only take 12 players to the Asian Games and should Lutz and Douthit make it then that means two others will be dropped. I figure they might drop the seldom-used Ballesteros (I can only surmise that it's a matter of height because no one should question his heart and desire) to make way for Douthit as for Lutz... that's a tough one.

The inclusion of Lassiter underscores his importance to the team and program. When the nationals arrived from their second to the last outing, I was immediately aware of Marcio's absence but acquiesced to the team management's desire to keep things under wraps. Incredibly team officials only found out by chance during the PBA Draft when Caloy Allado, father of pro player Don and who serves as Marcio's agent, nonchalantly mentioned Lassiter flying to the US.

If anything, the Lassiter incident and the late submission of the line-up that led to POC officials to fire a broadside to SBP officials means that there are still problems within the group.