Chot Reyes (center). FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Chot Reyes, the Gilas Pilipinas coach, Saturday took the withdrawals of two candidates from the national pool in stride but stressed that inclusion into the group was not exclusively for the World Cup in Spain but also for the more winnable Asian Games.
Greg Slaughter and Marcio Lassiter took their names out of the race for a spot to the National Five on Friday night, saying that they both did not want to take the place of any of the original 12 members who fought and worked hard in the Fiba Asia Championship.
Lassiter also cited health issues, a bad back sustained from a fall in the Philippine Cup two seasons ago, as one of his reasons.
Reyes said that he respects the decision of the two, but also said that the pool was also intended to strengthen the squad that will also play in the quadrennial Games in Incheon, South Korea, in late September.
With Slaughter and Lassiter pulling out, Reyes has the original 12 and three that remained from the five that he added into the pool last week.
Paul Lee and Beau Belga of Rain or Shine and Meralco’s Jared Dillinger are those that remain.
The Philippines will play in the World Cup for the first time in nearly four decades after finishing second to Iran in the Fiba-Asia Championship last August in Manila.
The Filipinos will be in Group B together with Argentina, Croatia, Senegal, Greece and Puerto Rico and would need to win at least two games to make it past the first phase and earn the chance to play LeBron James and several other NBA superstars from the United States.