Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Alaska willing to lend Calvin Abueva to Philippine national team


The Alaska Aces previously made a clear stand that it won’t release its players to the Philippine national men’s basketball team while they were still in contention for the Commissioner’s Cup.

But with the tournament over and the team fresh off capturing its 14th PBA title, Alaska is now willing to do its part for the national cause.

That means that center Sonny Thoss can begin full contact training with the SMART-Gilas Pilipinas national team.

The Aces are also open to lending another player to the national squad.

On Monday, InterAKTV reported exclusively that members of the Gilas coaching staff are interested in tapping Alaska star rookie Calvin Abueva to join the pool.

“For Calvin, if he will be included, I don’t see a problem,” wrote Alaska team manager Dickie Bachmann in a text message to InterAKTV.

Gilas coach Chot Reyes originally named 17 players to the pool, but several members of the squad have been felled by injuries. Kelly Williams (blood disorder) and Jared Dillinger (pelvic fracture) have been ruled out of this August’s FIBA Asia Championship, while others are recovering from various ailments.

Abueva has emerged as the leading candidate to win the season’s Most Valuable Player honors after finishing runner-up in the Best Player race in the first two conferences. The idea of him joining the national squad has drawn strong support from PBA fans. In a poll on InterAKTV, more than 77 percent of voters agreed that he should be part of Gilas.

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