Douthit given go signal to join PH hoop team

THE INTERNATIONAL Basketball Federation (FIBA) gave naturalized player Marcus Douthit the go signal to join the Smart Gilas Pilipinas team in FIBA tournaments, including the ongoing Southeast Asian Basketball Association (SEABA) Men’s Championship in Jakarta.

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director Renauld ‘Sonny’ Barrios bared the news late Wednesday. SBP deputy executive director Bernie Atienza made available to the press a copy of the letter from Ivanka Toteva, head of FIBA’s Sport and Eligibility Committee.

In the letter addressed to SBP, Toteva confirmed that Douthit is now eligible to play for the Philippine team upon receipt of the “the national status” of the player.

Douthit can now focus on giving the country’s national squad the slot it covets, a berth in the 2012 London Olympics via the FIBA Asia Men’s Championship in Wuhan, China in September.

“Now, I can really focus on helping the team without distractions,” said Douthit. Correspondent Jonas Panerio