MANILA, Philippines – Based on the 3 games that Smart Gilas has played in the PBA, one could safely say that this is a team to reckon with. Backstopped by the country’s leading collegiate and amateur stars, the PH national team has been successful thus far against the professional PBA teams toting a 3-0 record alongside the Rain or Shine Elastopainters.
Chris Tiu, Marcio Lassiter, Andy Barroca, Aldrech Ramos and JV Casio have been going great guns but it is really behemoth Marcus Douthit that has been chiefly responsible for charging up the Smart Gilas squad.
Churning in a consistent double-double performance, there is no doubt that Douthit can “Do It!” But many say that such is to be expected. Not only is he 6’11”, he was an official draftee in 2004 by the current NBA world champion Los Angeles Lakers.
He never got to play a single game and despite another possible call to duty in 2006, he was again placed on waivers. Douthit only got to strut his wares in the NBA Developmental League where he averaged 16.3 points and 8.6 rebounds while playing under the New Mexico Thudnerbirds.
Douthit also had stints in Europe prior to his almost-NBA goals. He played in Belgium, Turkey and Russia.
He has been a big lift indeed, initially playing as an import for the Smart Gilas team and is now under the Filipino naturalization process. Douthit is now only awaiting the approval of President Benigno Aquino III for him to gain Filipino citizenship.
Douthit has been impressive but playing against locals who simply cannot match up against him and import a whole lot smaller, it seems his current performance is only to be dominating.
The story will be different once international competition starts where other countries will likewise have their own imports and naturalized candidate who are as taller or maybe even taller than him.
As to whether his performance in the PBA is a gauge of things to come is certainly half-cooked for now. There is no doubt that Douthit is talented but can he match up against the other countries who have their own share of reinforcements as well.
That remains to be seen. Either Douthit "does it" or the Filipinos will "doubt it".
Brian Yalung, Manila Bulletin
