MANILA, Philippines — Smart-Gilas Pilipinas wants four of the team’s stars to stay with the national team at least until 2013 so they can be on hand when the Philippines tries to make a run for a spot in the World Championship.

Smart is reportedly trying to woo Chris Tiu, JV Casio, as well as Fil-Americans Marcio Lassiter and Chris Lutz to stay with the team even as the four are reportedly being tempted with the promise of a lucrative and rewarding PBA career.

In fact three of them have already submitted their applications for the PBA Rookie Draft slated Aug. 28 at the Robinson’s Place in Ermita, Manila.

The only remaining holdout is Tiu whose application is still being awaited at deadline Thursday.

But Gilas reportedly will not be giving up rights to the four players without a fight.

Casio submitted his application Thursday, the last day for submission of applications.

On the other hand, the papers of Lassiter and Lutz were forwarded at the PBA Commissioner’s Office last month.

But even if the applications are already with the PBA, the players can still pull out of the draft by informing the office of the PBA commissioner that they are withdrawing two days before draft day, or by skipping the rookie camp.

Powerade, which owns the No. 1 pick in the Draft, announced it will pick Tiu if he decides to join the Draft.

The source said that Smart-Gilas management, though, will continue to negotiate with the four players to stay in the national team even though they have submitted their applications.

“They can apply, but Smart-Gilas will continue to talk to them,” said the source who asked not to be named. “If they decide to stay with the national team and continue with the program, they can easily pull out from the Draft.”

“If not, at least their names are already on the list of applicants. We all understand that playing in the PBA is also a dream for these players,” added the source.

The same source said that the Smart-Gilas management decided to just pursue four, thus giving the ‘green light’ to other national team members to go with their Draft plans.

The other players who have submitted the Draft requirements were Mark Barroca, Mac Baracael, Dylan Ababou and Jason Ballesteros.

As for naturalized 6-foot-10 center Marcus Douthit, his performance will be evaluated after team’s campaign in the FIBA-Asia Championship in Wuhan, China on Sept. 15, the qualifying tournament for the 2012 London Olympics.

source: Waylon Galvez -MB