By Wayon Galvez

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) has started assessing prospective foreign players who may be granted citizenship to reinforce a Philippine basketball team for international competitions.

The team will be under the supervision of Serbian mentor Rajko Toroman who has been hired to develop an RP team that can match up to the best in Asia and maybe get a team ready for the 2012 London Olympics, should the country be lucky to qualify.

The Olympic qualifying is the 2011 FIBA-Asia Championship and the SBP already informed the world governing body FIBA of its intention to host the event.

SBP Executive Director Noli Eala said yesterday that they are now looking at two candidates for naturalization.

"Actually we’re tracking two players who are high on the list," Eala said.

Eala said that he already has spoken with one of the prospects, Terrence Gamble, a 6-foot-11, 260-pound center who played college ball at the Tarleton State University in Texas. He is set to play with the Bakersfield Jam in the NBA Development League (D-League).

"We’ve talked to him (Gamble), but nothing’s definite," Eala said. "He’s up for evaluation by Jim Kelly and coach Toroman."

According to Eala, Kelly, despite his current position as the Senior Director for Player Personnel of the Toronto Raptors in the NBA, has been helping the SBP find prospects for naturalization and Fil-Ams.

Kelly, together with Caloy Allado, the US-based father of PBA player Don, and Larry Albano are helping the federation find players, either for naturalization or Fil-Am aspirants for the national team.

Eala said that the SBP plans to conduct a tryout in key areas in the United States like Detroit, Chicago or Las Vegas on Easter Sunday weekend next year.

The SBP has also invited Rey Parks, the son of former PBA seven-time best import winner Bobby Parks, to tryout for the national team.

The 15-year-old Parks, who is 6-foot-4, currently plays high school basketball at the Ridgeway Middle School in Memphis.

Other US-based players invited by the SBP are 6-foot-7 Gain Chiu (Oberlin College) and 6-foot-9 Japeth Aguilar (Western Kentucky University).

Source: http://www.mb.com.ph/SPRT20081119141341.html