Air21 earns right to tap Douthit as Commissioner's Cup import

Air21 (formerly Shopinas) earned the right to tap the services of naturalized player Marcus Douthit as the team's import in the coming 37th PBA Commissioner's Cup. The league's board of governors unanimously voted to allow the Express to negotiate with the Smart Gilas-Pilipinas big man. That the rest of the nine teams already had their respective imports only made the decision moot and academic. "After due deliberation, the (PBA) board has decided to step aside and allow Air21 to negotiate and engage the services of Marcus Douthit for the second conference," Salud announced prior to Game Three of the Philippine Cup Finals between Talk 'N Text and Powerade. Failure to reach an agreement between Air21 and Douthit, however, will bar the 6-foot-10 native of Syracuse, New York from negotiating with other PBA teams. Salud said that Express PBA board representative Sheila Lina, daughter of Air21 owner Bert Lina, bared the team's intention to hire Douthit’s services. Douthit, the Los Angeles Lakers' 27th overall pick in the second round of the 2004 NBA Draft, is currently seeing action in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) as the Foshan Dralions' import. In an e-mail he sent to the PBA, the 31-year-old center out of Providence College, said he will only be available until at least February 18. The second conference formally kicks off on February 10, forcing league officials to adjust the Express' schedule in the import-laden tournament. Air21, actually, already had an import at hand in Malcolm Thomas, who, unfortunately, was signed by the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA. "Coach Franz (Pumaren) told me that he already thought that they have an import," Salud said. "But the import they were eyeing to get was suddenly signed up by an NBA team." Returning Chris Alexander of Ginebra leads this year's batch of reinforcement that also include Dwayne Jones (Powerade), Jake Voskuhl (Rain or Shine), Jelani McCoy (Meralco), DerMarr Johnson (Barako Bull), Denzel Bowles (B-MEG). Nick Fazekas (Petron), Omar Samhan (Talk ‘N Text) and Matt Saryas (Alaska). — JVP/KG, GMA News