21 begin contesting Gilas’ remaining 11 slots

FILE – GILAS Pilipinas coach Tab Baldwin says the team’s goal is to win “every single game” in the Fiba Asia Championship in Hunan. Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

NEARLY everyone will be present for Gilas Pilipinas starting Tuesday as national coach Tab Baldwin begins the long process of shaping the team to fighting form and choosing his “Fighting 12” for the Manila Olympic Qualifying Tournament slated six weeks from now.

Baldwin already lost two players to injury—Greg Slaughter and Matt Ganuelas-Rosser—but will welcome into the pool four Gilas veterans that played in the recent PBA title series.

Only naturalized player Andray Blatche remains unaccounted for. The 6-foot-11 former Brooklyn Nets star in the NBA is expected to arrive on Friday after attending to his ailing mother in the United States.

In all, 21 players will fight it out for the the remaining 11 slots on the team that will gun for an Olympic spot from July 5 to 11 at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.

Meanwhile, Rain or Shine’s superstar point guard Paul Lee is expected to inform Baldwin and the rest of the coaching staff Tuesday whether he would be available to play for the national team.

Lee, who won the Finals MVP recently, has a delicate left knee condition that could take him out of the Gilas pool.

His PBA coach, Yeng Guiao, told the Inquirer recently that the team has left the decision solely up to Lee and his doctors.

Lee, 2012 Jones Cup MVP LA Tenorio, international revelation Terrence Romeo, Fiba Asia Mythical Team member Jason Castro, Bobby Ray Parks and Kiefer Ravena will be fighting it out for—at most— three point guard spots.

June Mar Fajardo seems to have a lock on one of the center spots with Slaughter out and Alaska’s Sonny Thoss, a member of last year’s Fiba Asia runner-up, not invited to the pool this time.

The Philippines will be slugging it out with New Zealand and Tony Parker-powered France in the first phase of the OQT.

Practice time is from 9 to 12 noon at Meralco gym in Pasig.