Minutes before playing its first match in the 2011 FIBA Asia Championship, the SMART-Gilas Pilipinas national team has been dealt a blow that may just be fatal to its chances of winning the Olympic qualifying tournament.

Filipino-American swingmen Marcio Lassiter and Chris Lutz have been disallowed from competing after concerns were raised by FIBA Asia deputy secretary-general Hagop Khajirian about their eligibility.

Talk ‘N Text coach Chot Reyes, a member of the SMART-Gilas coaching staff, confirmed the news on his Twitter account.

“FIBA Commissioner just told me now that Lutz and Lassiter are ineligible,” wrote Reyes. “Only an advise from FIBA in Switzerland can make them [eligible to] play now.”

Khajirian, a Lebanese native, brought the matter up during the managers’ meeting prior to the tournament on Wednesday night.

Curiously, Lassiter and Lutz were in the lineup for the Philippine team in a number of FIBA Asia-sanctioned tournaments, including the Southeast Asian Basketball Association Championship earlier this year. The pair also saw action for SMART-Gilas in the 2010 Asian Games.

source: InterAKTV