Ex-Warrior fits the bill for national 5?

MANILA, Philippines - Will former Golden State Warriors forward Chris Taft prove to be the right man for a naturalized player the Smart Gilas Pilipinas national team would need in its mission for 2012 London Games?

The 6-10, 260-pound American, who the country hopes to tap as a naturalized player to beef up the RP team, will plane in today from Atlanta, hoping to showcase his wares in the Serbian Rajko Toroman-mentored team seeking a berth in the 2012 London Olympics.

“We’re expecting Chris Taft to arrive Friday morning because he has agreed to come over. We’re trying him out,” Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director Noli Eala said during the presentation of the Smart-powered RP team in Teatrino at the Promenade in Greenhills, San Juan Wednesday night.

Taft, a shot block artist who played for University of Pittsburg before the Warriors drafted him four years ago, was originally scheduled to fly in early this month to reinforce the RP team in exhibition games against Puerto Rican league champion Capitanes de Arecibo. The series, however, was cancelled.

Eala said the 23-year-old Taft, who was recommended by Toronto Raptors director of player personnel Jim Kelly, should fit the Nationals system considering his age, height, athleticism and willingness to be part of the team.

“As a free agent, he (Taft) is high on the radar of NBA teams so we are competing against them,” said Eala. “Taft’s age is perfect for our requirements. He’s single, has no attachments and willing to relocate.”

If things work out, Eala said Taft could join the Nationals when they leave for Serbia on March 27 and then in the US on April 19.

The SBP also has plans of tapping Taft to backstop the RP squad in the import-laced FIBA-Asia Champions Cup slated May 12-20 in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Taft averaged 23 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and four shot blocks as Xaverian Prep senior – the same high school former NBA star Chris Mullin attended – in Brooklyn, New York in 2003.

At University of Pittsburgh, he was one of only eight players who had a career 100 shot blocks in school history despite only playing two seasons with the school where he started 53 of the 65 games and averaged 12 points and 7.5 rebounds.

The Warriors picked up Taft in the second round of the 2005 NBA rookie draft that was rich with stars including the New Orleans Hornets’ Chris Paul, the Utah Jazz’s Deron Williams, the Milwaukee Bucks’ Andrew Bogut and Charlie Villanueva and the New York Knicks’ Nate Robinson and David Lee.   – Joey Villar