SBP needs to touch base with PBA

Buddy Encarnado, Sta. Lucia’s team manager and representative to the PBA board, and Raymond Yu of Rain or Shine must be wondering why no official of the Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas has bothered to touch base with either of them.

You see, according to the papers, the SBP is very keen on tapping the services of Sta. Lucia’s Kelly Williams and Rain or Shine’s Gabe Norwood for the Smart Gilas national team.

Smart Gilas is also looking at recruiting a third PBA cager—Jared Dillinger—but that should pose no problem since Talk ‘N Text is like a sister team of Smart Gilas.

PBA commissioner Sonny Barrios said the SBP should make formal its intent to enlist the three cagers.

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Yesterday, I called Buddy to ask who decides when a PBA player is asked to suit up for the national team. Is it the mother squad or the PBA?

I was sure the approval of the mother team—in Kelly’s case, Sta. Lucia—had to be secured first by the SBP. And then, perhaps, the SBP will need the approval of the PBA board next.

Buddy corrected me. He said it requires only the mother team’s approval.

It was time to pop the question: Would he be willing to loan Kelly to the national team, despite the grand declaration of SBP executive director Noli Eala that Smart Gilas does not need the services of PBA cagers? And after Eala had mocked the Powerade-Pilipinas team Williams played for, the one that placed seventh in the 2009 Fiba-Asia Men’s Championship?

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“First, I will need to know what tournament the SBP will be recruiting Kelly for, then I will need to know the date and duration of the tournament to determine if it will conflict with our schedule,” Buddy said.

“If schedules do not conflict, I go up to team owner Exie Robles to seek his blessing. If he says yes, then Kelly is free to join the national team,” said Buddy.

Of course, Buddy remembers Eala’s statements after the Fiba Asia, but the man is not one to hold grudges. Besides he may be persuaded by close PBA associates Ricky Vargas and Pato Gregorio to forgive and forget.

As for Elasto Painter Gabe Norwood, I asked Rain or Shine team owner Raymond Yu the same question I asked Buddy.

Would he be willing to lend Gabe to Smart Gilas? Gabe also played for Powerade Team Pilipinas in Tianjin.

Raymond’s answer was short and sweet: No questions asked, no conditions set.

“Oo (Yes), they need him,” he said.

Source: Beth Celis  | Philippine Daily Inquirer