Roger Pogoy. PBA IMAGES
MANILA, Philippines—Add another name to scratch from the Gilas Pilipinas roster that will take on two visiting nations in this week’s Fiba World Cup Asian Qualifiers.
Roger Pogoy has ruled himself out of the home stands against Lebanon and Jordan after hurting his right ankle in the game against Meralco last Friday night.
“It still hurts. They say it’s a bruised bone,” the Tropang Giga gunner told reporters in Filipino shortly after the club’s 105-103 escape from San Miguel at PhisSports Arena in Pasig City.
“The pain is not from swelling, but from within the bone. So I really think I have to rest it out and that’s going to keep me out of Gilas this week,” he added.
Pogoy’s looming absence is another blow to a National Team pool that is already reeling from a shortage of frontline options. Kai Sotto has categorically opted out from the games against Lebanon and Jordan, while Japeth Aguilar is also nursing an injury.
Without the dead-eye Cebuano, Chot Reyes’ choices for the two-guard spot have now been reduced to just Japan-based standouts Ray Parks Jr. and Jordan Heading, along with amateurs Francis Lopez and Schonny Winston.
“It would’ve been really nice playing on home court,” said Pogoy. “My last (Gilas) game was against Jordan. Our game against Saudi Arabia (in Jeddah) also felt like on [our turf], too.”
“But it would’ve been really nice to play here, on our very home court.”