Jimmy Alapag misses the Gilas Pilipinas final 12 as he continues to recover from injury. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
A healthy Jimmy Alapag would’ve made the final lineup of Gilas Pilipinas.
But instead he was cut from the 12-man roster which will be competing in the 2015 Fiba Asia Championship in Changsha, China this month as his health issues continued to hamper Alapag.
READ: Abueva, Romeo lead Gilas Pilipinas final 12; Clarkson out
“I’m disappointed there just wasn’t enough time for my quad injury to heal 100 percent before Fiba Asia,” the former Philippine team captain told INQUIRER.net just moments after the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas had released the names composing the latest version of Gilas Pilipinas.
The 37-year-old Alapag re-injured his quad in the Philippines’ loss to fierce rival South Korea in the 2015 Jones Cup.
READ: Baldwin rates Gilas Pilipinas as ‘better but not good enough’
Alapag is confident that the newest Gilas Pilipinas squad, led by newcomers Calvin Abueva and Terrence Romeo, naturalized center Andray Blatche and mainstays Ranidel de Ocampo and Jayson Castro, will be up to the task of securing the only Olympic berth in the Fiba Asia.
Alapag, who came out of retirement after a seven-month hiatus from playing professional basketball, said that the experience playing in the Jones Cup helped Gilas to strengthen its bond even more.
READ: TNT ex-teammates get bittersweet feelings with Alapag’s return
“I’m still very excited for my brothers going to battle in two weeks,” he said. “They’ve been working very hard, and the experience in the Jones Cup only improved the team chemistry both on and off the court.
“They’ll give us a great chance to get back to the Olympic Stage starting Sept 23.”