BalotSports.info

Despite the Smart-Gilas national team’s poor performance in the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup as guest squad, Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) executive director Noli Eala expressed confidence that the Nationals will improve more when they play abroad next year.

“I wouldn’t say that I’m satisfied,” Eala said recently. “I think the team could have played better, our progress in the PBA is slow.”

The Philippine Team, which will see action in the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, China, currently sports a 3-9 win-loss record in the PBA and will end its campaign when it battles Purefoods next week at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Nationals preparations suffered a major blow when the SBP’s first choice of import, CJ Giles, was dropped from the team because of several personal problems endured by the American.

Giles was replaced by another American import, Jamal Sampson, who played in the NBA for seven seasons. Sampson, a cousin of former NBA player Ralph Sampson signed a contract giving him at least $15,000 monthly salary. His total package for one year will cost the SBP approximately P9 million.

The 6-foot-11 Sampson, however, must be a naturalized citizen in order for him to play for the national team in the 2011 FIBA-Asia Championship, the qualifying event for the 2012 London Games.

Sampson’s first game with the Nationals, however, was forgettable.

In a 91-96 loss to Barako Bull, Sampson, 26, was bothered by back pain that limited his production to only four points, two rebounds with four fouls in only 10 minutes of action. He did not play in the fourth quarter of that game.

According to Eala, there’s nothing to worry as far as Sampson’s back in concerned. Sampson left the country last December 17 and will return on January 2.

“He had no actual competitive games in a while. But he’ll get around. In practice we can see that he can really play and help the team,” Eala said, adding that Sampson will join the team in an invitational meet in Dubai as well as friendly games in Kuwait and Qatar.

“We only play once a week, we don’t get much game to help us get better, but the Middle East tour will surely help because we’ll get a lot of competitive games,” he said.

Eala said that they have to improve on playing team defense, which was their problem in their PBA stint.

“Our big men must get tougher, offensively we’re good. But it’s really on defense that we have to improve,” said Eala.

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Smart Gilas will bring 15 players for the Middle East tour. They are Sampson, Aguilar, Lassiter, Chris Tiu, Mac Baracael, Dylan Ababou, Greg Slaughter, J. R. Cawaling, R. J. Jazul, Mark Barroca, Aldrech Ramos, Rabeh Al Hussaini, Magi Sison, Jason Ballesteros and Jayvee Casio. Staying behind are Ryan Buenafe, who has commitments in school, and Rey Guevara who is recovering from knee surgery.

Games January 6 (Araneta Coliseum)
3 p.m. — Smart-Gilas vs Purefoods
5 p.m. — Sta. Lucia vs Rain or Shine
7:30 p.m. — Talk ’N Text vs Ginebra