Gilas mulls final roster for Fiba Asia Cup qualifer vs Indonesia

MANILA, Philippines– Gilas Pilipinas will take Sunday off but coach Mark Dickel said the fine-tuning of the team goes on.

The names that will comprise the line up for the match against Indonesia should be known soon, according to the interim mentor.

“We’d go back and forth with the coaches tonight, and probably put together who the 15 (players) are and start talking about combinations,” Dickel said Saturday after the team’s practice at Meralco Gym in Ortigas.

Kiefer Ravena is the lone definite name to make the list as he was recently appointed skipper of the squad.

“We haven’t really thought that much about who’d make the 15 or the 12,” he said. “We’re just really impressed by how the players have played, and how hard they’ve competed [for their spots].”

Likely making the cuts are 2019 PBA Rookie draft special picks Allyn Bulanadi, Isaac Go, Rey Suerte, and Nieto twins Mike and Matt.

Dickel also said that Gilas may be playing “one of the PBA teams” in a tune-up game sometime next week to “get ready … and kind of replace that one game that we’re [supposed] to play.”

“Over the next couple of days, we’ve got to release (a list) to Fiba, for clearance,” he said. “I’m sure in the next 48 hours they’ll have confirmed that release.”

Philippines was supposed to host SEA Games second placer Thailand on Feb. 20, but Fiba decided to move the match to a later date, following the government’s recommendations amid the novel coronavirus outbreak.

Gilas leaves for Jakarta on Feb. 21, according to team manager Gabby Cui.