Toroman plans to keep import

MARCUS Douthit is it.

Douthit earned the nod of Smart-Gilas Pilipinas head coach Rajko Toroman and will formally join the team in the Asian Games as soon as he is naturalized as a Filipino citizen in the next few months.

The 6’10” American had an impressive performance in the recent Philippine Invitational Challenge, which Smart-Gilas won at the expense of the Jordan national team.

‘’We decided to keep him. He will stay,’’ Toroman said of Douthit. “His papers for naturalization will be processed in the coming days.’’

Toroman said Douthit has the necessary tools to help the nationals in their future international stints.

Prior to the tournament, Toroman said that they will quickly fix his (Douthit) papers if he impresses.

Since he did, Toroman hopes to see Douthit in action in the team’s coming tournaments, starting with the 32nd Jones Cup in Taipei next month and in the Asian Games in November if his papers would be processed in time for the tourney.

Douthit, a former Los Angeles Lakers draftee, is the fourth prospect for naturalization for the team after CJ Giles, Jamal Sampson and Milan Vucicevic failed to make the grade.

Toroman said the 30-year-old Douthit is the right fit for a team in need of a solid inside presence.

‘’He fits the system well and his game is what we need. After seeing first hand what he can do, I believe he’s going to help us in a big way,” said Toroman.

In his debut game last Thursday against Donguan New Century, Douthit scored 26 points and had nine rebounds in a 74-64 win and had a double-double of 10 points and 11 rebounds in their title game against Jordan last Sunday.