13 players show up as Gilas opens World Cup qualifiers buildup

June Mar Fajardo. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/ INQUIRER.net

Thirteen players were present in the first day of the Smart Gilas Pilipinas’ training camp for the first leg of the 2017 Fiba World Cup qualifiers later this month.

Four-time PBA Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo, Jayson Castro, and Calvin Abueva spearheaded the attendees at Meralco Gym on Friday night.

Also present were longtime national team members Japeth Aguilar and Gabe Norwood, mainstays Troy Rosario, Raymond Almazan, and Allein Maliksi, as well as cadets Roger Pogoy, Matthew Wright, Jio Jalalon, Mac Belo, and Carl Bryan Cruz.

Assistant coaches Jong Uichico, Jimmy Alapag, Josh Reyes, and Ryan Betia assisted Head Coach Chot Reyes in the session.

The Philippines is preparing for its game against Japan in Tokyo on November 24, before going back home where it will take on Chinese Taipei at Smart Araneta Coliseum on November 27.

Read more...