No final 14 yet for Gilas Pilipinas; ‘Brutal decision’ for Baldwin

Gilas Pilipinas after its win over Iran. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Philippine men’s national basketball team head coach Tab Baldwin has held out on the announcement of the final 14-man lineup.

Baldwin was supposed to make that decision after Gilas Pilipinas’ tuneup against Iran on Wednesday night, but the game itself played a part in postponing the announcement.

“Well, we’re not announcing that [Final 14]. I hate to disappoint everybody but I just talked to the players about it, coaches are gonna go to dinner now, we’re gonna sit down and make the final decision.

“Actually, we’re close to a decision but tonight’s game made us kinda rethink things but that’s what we play those games for, that’s one of the things they’re designed for was to help us make final decisions.”

Gilas Pilipinas held on to beat Iran, 81-70, in a game which draw significant contributions from Andray Blatche, Japeth Aguilar and Ryan Reyes.

The national team is set to trim down the pool to the 14 who will fly out for the final stretch of training in Europe. Gilas is scheduled to leave for Greece on June 10.

Baldwin, though, has said that Kiefer Ravena and Moala Tuatuaa are out of the running for the final roster for the Fiba Olympic Qualifiers this July.

Jeff Chan and Marcio Lassiter, who have been in and out of training due to illness and injuries, meanwhile, are still in consideration.

“It’s a brutal decision for a coach. Worst part of the job,” said Baldwin.