Smart Gilas Pilipinas to play tune-up games in Cebu

THE SMART GILAS-Pilipinas will be stepping up their training for the FIBA-Asia men’s basketball tournament as they take on the best basketball squads from the south in the reigning Liga national champions M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu Niños and the current league leader Mandaue-Cebu Landmasters/RDAK, in a pair of exhibition games next week.

The Nationals are coming off an impressive romp in the 9th Southeast Asian Basketball Association Championships held in Jakarta, Indonesia, wherein they swept all of their games en route to claiming the title.

The Gilas have now set their eyes on the William Jones Cup set on Aug. 6 to 14 in Taiwan before ultimately embarking on their mission for a berth in the 2012 Olympics during the FIBA-Asia tilt slate on September in Wuhan, China.

First things first though, as the Gilas will face off against the revitalized Niños on July 6 at the Cebu Coliseum. They will then take on the Landmasters over at the Mandaue Cultural and Sports Complex in Mandaue City the following day before battling the Niños again on July 8 at the University of San Agustin gym in Iloilo City.

The fan-favorite Gilas will be bannered by team captain, Chris Tiu, JV Casio, Mac Baracael, Marcio Lassiter, Japeth Aguilar, Chris Lutz, Mark Barroca, Dylan Ababou, Jason Ballesteros and newly naturalized American, Marcus Douthit. Correspondent Jonas Panerio