Vets, young guns show up at Gilas practice

Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Stars aligned for Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes on Monday as members of the current national team pool and the “23-for-23” cadet squad converged at Meralco Gym.

With the Philippine team returning to practice for the second leg of the 2019 Fiba World Cup Asian qualifiers, Reyes had the veterans give the young guns a glimpse of what’s to come. It also offered Reyes a preview of what the future holds for the national team.

Twelve of the 15 current pool members namely Jayson Castro, Japeth Aguilar, Gabe Norwood, Troy Rosario, Allein Maliksi, Kevin Alas, Kiefer Ravena, Roger Pogoy, Mac Belo, Jio Jalalon, Matthew Wright, and Carl Bryan Cruz were present at the resumption of the weekly Monday evening practices.

The young turks also made their presence felt with Thirdy Ravena, CJ Perez, Robert Bolick, Isaac Go, Paul Desiderio, J-jay Alejandro, Javee Mocon, Juan Gomez De Liaño, Arvin Tolentino, Jeo Ambohot, Kemark Cariño, Joshua Sinclair, and Will Gozum all showing up.

Reyes also had his full coaching staff on hand, with assistant coaches Jong Uichico, Jimmy Alapag, Josh Reyes, and Ryan Betia all present.

Executives from the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) were also in full force to watch Gilas Pilipinas buckle down to work.

Attending the session were chairman emeritus Manny V. Pangilinan, president Al Panlilio, chairman Sonny Angara, vice chair Robbie Puno, and executive director Sonny Barrios.