They do have an advantage with the hulking Marcus Douthit (6'10") at center while the other PBA teams have imports standing at 6'4" or less but they also have young "amateur" players who lack the experience and craftiness of PBA veterans.
However, the young guns have been showing up their elders, going toe-to-toe and ending up on top.
Could they indeed be the better team?
Click the title and follow the link for the GMA story.For excerpts, read below.
Pilipinas-Smart Gilas is fresh from beating powerhouse teams Talk `N Text and Alaska in their first two outings. But catching up with solo leader Rain or Shine (3-0) on top of the standings may come a bit difficult for the Nationals, especially if Marcus Douthit doesn’t come in 100 percent fit.
The 6-foot-11 center, a candidate for naturalization, was inadvertently hit above his left eyebrow in the Nationals’ 91-89 overtime win over the Aces, forcing him to play the rest of the game sporting a big bandage just above his forehead.
“It will be a very difficult game for us," said Toroman. “We don’t know if Marcus can play. Air21 is a strong team now because of the players they got in the trade."
The Serbian mentor is obviously referring to veterans Dondon Hontiveros, Danny Seigle and Dorian Pena, whom the Express acquired together with pesky guard Paul Artadi in a blockbuster trade that involved the Express’ top three rookie picks — Noy Baclao, Rabeh Al-Hussaini and Rey Guevarra — who were shipped to the Beermen.
Besides, the team will have a new spark with the acquisition of reinforcement Alpha Bangura, who will replace the ineffective Jeremy Robinson.
“He (Bangura) is a very strong and athletic player, one of the best imports in Lebanon," said Toroman, who’s adept as far as international competitions and players are concerned.
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