Manila, Philippines- With a depleted roster going to the 2010 PBA Season, it’s uncertain whether B-Meg Derby Ace will allow superstar guard James Yap to play for the Smart-Gilas Pilipinas in the Asian Games in Guangzhou, China this November.

A high-ranking team official said yesterday that management is having second thoughts of loaning Yap to the RP team.

“It’s not a hundred percent thing,” said the B-Meg official, who asked not to be named.

The Llamados will start to defend their Philippine Cup championship starting this October without veteran forward Kerby Raymundo, who will undergo hip operation in the United States and is expected to miss the rest of the 2010-11 Season.

“For sure, without Kerby things will be difficult. Then if you take James out of the roster, I don’t know what will happen to the team,” said the same source.

Aside from Raymundo, who was sidelined in the Fiesta Cup, B-Meg Derby Ace – now with new mentor Jorge Gallent (who took over from now Meralco coach Ryan Gregorio) – forward Marc Jean Pingris (right leg injury) is also doubtful for the season.

The 6-foot-1 Yap, together with the 6-foot-9 Asi Taulava of PowerAde and the the 6-foot-7 Kelly Williams of Talk ’N Text were requested by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) to be loaned to the Smart-Gilas Pilipinas for the Asian Games.

Incoming PBA Commissioner Chito Salud is expected to make a recommendation and the PBA board, chaired by Rene Pardo of B-Meg, will decide on the SBP request in its 3-day board meeting in Bangkok, Thailand beginning September 15.

It was Rajko Toroman, the Serbian mentor of Smart-Gilas, who asked the SBP to request the PBA to loan Yap, Taulava and Williams to the national team.

Meantime, PowerAde’s coach Bo Perasol that while he considers it a big loss if in case the PBA board decides to allow Taulava to play for the national team, he said that he has no problem with that since it is for flag and country.

“Although magiging malaking kawalan kung sakaling matuloy si Asi sa Gilas, we know naman it’s for national interest,” he said.