Norwood, Chan attend SMART-Gilas practice a day after Rain or Shine’s championship win

Photo courtesy of Chot Reyes

For Jeff Chan and Gabe Norwood, the celebration would have to wait.

Less than 24 hours after leading Rain or Shine to victory in the Governors’ Cup finals for the franchise’s first championship, the duo showed up at practice for the SMART-Gilas Pilipinas national team on Monday.

SMART-Gilas coach Chot Reyes tweeted a photo of the Norwood and Chan at practice.

That’s dedication! @gnorwood5 & @jeffreichan at GILAS practice tonight. Less than 24hrs after winning their 1st title twitter.com/coachot/status…

— Chot Reyes (@coachot) August 6, 2012

The two men played key roles for Rain or Shine in its Game Seven victory on Sunday. Chan scored 16 points and was named Most Valuable Player of the finals series, while Norwood scored 15 points apart from quarterbacking the team to the win.

Chan and Norwood are part of the SMART-Gilas lineup to the annual William Jones Cup in Taipei, Taiwan later this month. Also part of the team are fellow PBA stars Jayson Castro, Ranidel De Ocampo, Larry Fonacier, Sonny Thoss, LA Tenorio, Mac Baracael, Enrico Villanueva, Gary David, and Sol Mercado alongside naturalized center Marcus Douthit, former San Beda sharpshooter Garvo Lanete, and Filipino-American prospect Matthew Rosser.

Norwood is a veteran of international competition, having competed in the Jones Cup and the FIBA Asia Championship in 2007 and 2009. Norwood and Chan were also teammates in the Philippine squad that won the gold medal in the 2007 Southeast Asian Games.

Follow @interaksyon