Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes during the Fiba Asia Cup 2022 game vs Lebanon. –FIBA BASKETBALL
The Gilas Pilipinas coaching staff met on Saturday but chief tactician and national program director Chot Reyes said details of the huddle would not be disclosed for now.
“Those are coaching matters, things,” Reyes said on the eve of the meeting which included Barangay Ginebra mentor Tim Cone.
“Those are not for public discourse,” he went on. “[It’s] better left to us coaches.”
Reyes had previously said that the coaches will discuss the pool of names from which a squad to the August window of the Fiba World Cup Asian Qualifiers will be selected.
That pool could also provide a glimpse of who could make it to the roster for the World Cup, which the country will cohost with Indonesia and Japan in August next year.
The Inquirer reported on Saturday that the talent pool for the global showcase will have around 24 players. The group is expected to be together for at least three months thanks to a window provided by the Philippine Basketball Association, which shrunk its 48th season.
Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas’ Sonny Barrios told the Inquirer on Saturday night that there remains no timeline as to when the national pool members will be named.
However, the executive director, said that he is scheduled to meet with Reyes to iron out the details.
Eight PBA stars are reportedly being considered for the pool: Reigning Most Valuable Player Scottie Thompson and Barangay Ginebra teammate Japeth Aguilar, June Mar Fajardo and CJ Perez of San Miguel Beer, Calvin Oftana of NLEX, Jamie Malonzo of NorthPort, Chris Newsome of Meralco, and Troy Rosario of TNT.