Alaska lends Tenorio, Baracael, Thoss to SEABA line-up

(Updated 1:46pm) Apparently, there's no bad blood between the Alaska Aces franchise and the Smart Gilas program anymore. National team head coach Chot Reyes announced on Twitter that PBA veterans and members of the Alaska franchise LA Tenorio, Mac Baracael, and Sonny Thoss have been added to the roster of semi-pros the Philippines will be sending to participate in the 3rd SEABA Stankovic Cup in Singapore from July 3 to 7.

Official SEABA lineup, Douthit, Ramos, Marcelo, Lanete, Co, Tiu, Monfort, Hermida, Tenorio, Baracael, Thoss. Big thx to Alaska & PBA Board — Chot Reyes (@coachot) June 28, 2012          

Reyes' tweet also lists Smart Gilas I naturalized center Marcus Douhit, Aldrech Ramos and Chris Tiu, both also Gilas I vets, SEA Games Sinag team members Dave Marcelo, Garvo Lanete and Emman Monfort, and PBA Developmental League NLEX Road Warriors Borgie Hermida and Woody Co.   Gone from the line-up are Chris Ellis and Cliff Hodge, the two Fil-Ams of the Road Warriors, and Vic Manuel, of the D-League's Cebuana Lhuillier Gems. With Reyes' PBA team, the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters, seemingly a lock to make the semifinal round of the on-going Governors' Cup, Meralco Bolts consultant Jong Uichico will be handling the coaching duties in Singapore. Reyes later tweeted that Ellis and Hodge would not be fielded due to possible problems establishing their citizenship, similar to what happened to Fil-Ams Chris Lutz and Marcio Lassiter, during the 26th FIBA-Asia Championship last year.

SEABA from July 3 - 7 only. To be coached by Jong Uichico. No Hodge/Ellis coz they're Fil-am. Thoss played in past FIBA already. Co is Woody — Chot Reyes (@coachot) June 28, 2012      

With the Aces playing their last game in the PBA Governors' Cup Wednesday, as they are out of contention for a post-season berth, that frees up the trio to participate in the tournament. Alaska interim head coach Luigi Trillo had earlier taken to Twitter to criticize the Gilas program for being "selfish," accusing the squad's cadet program of depriving PBA teams looking to improve themselves via the draft of talent. But Reyes later answered back by saying, "Comments about GILAS [sic] being selfish and unfair are coming from misinformed parties basing their remarks on inaccurate press reports," and clarified that members of team being sent to the SEABA tourney would still be draft-eligible, and were not the members of the cadet pool. Ironically, Trillo had also complained that "Cadet pool is not needed to win a Seaba," in reference to the inferior competition the Philippines would be facing in the tourney. The aforementioned cadet pool, whose line-up has not yet been announced, will be comprised of amateur and semi-pro players. It is presumed that they would be signed to deals that would prevent them from joining the PBA Draft immediately, similar to the players that bannered the first Smart Gilas squad, an assumption which was the source of Trillo's anger.  Trillo's Aces finished the Governors' Cup tournament with a 2-7 record, and will either own or tie for the last spot in the standings. - AMD, GMA News