Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes revealed his 24-man pool where the final lineup for the Fiba Asia Cup in Lebanon in August will come from, but PBA sources on Saturday said that this could encounter rough sailing from the league’s board considering that the event is not included in the World Cup qualifying process.
The Inquirer also learned that the PBA is now seriously considering moving the opening of its next season to as late as the middle of December just to accommodate the national team program and allow Gilas to send the best players possible at the start of the hectic Fiba Qualifying in November.
Andray Blatche, as expected, leads the new pool that welcomes back Gabe Norwood, as they are joined by Japeth Aguilar, Raymond Almazan, Allein Maliksi, Terrence Romeo, Troy Rosario, Jayson Castro, Baser Amer, Kevin Alas, Norbert Torres, June Mar Fajardo and Calvin Abueva.
RR Pogoy, Matthew Wright and Jio Jalalon, who were part of the Southeast Asian Basketball Association Gilas team, were also named together with fellow Cadets Mac Belo, Carl Bryan Cruz, Kevin Ferrer and Mike Tolomia.
Amateur stars Bobby Ray Parks, Kiefer Ravena and Kobe Paras and Filipino-German Christian Standhardinger round out the list.
The PBA and governing Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas struck an accord last year that would allow the country to be represented by its finest in the Qualifying process.
But with the Asian Championship to run from Aug. 8 to 20, it will conflict with the season-ending Governors’ Cup, which starts July 19 and will end in the third week of October.
Reyes and Gilas is slated to leave next Friday for Chinese Taipei to join the Jones Cup Invitational. The team of Cadets, plus Paras, Ravena and Standhardinger will be reinforced by import Mike Myers.
The Jones Cup will give Reyes a chance to scout Fiba Asia opponents.