Gilas Pilipinas to name Final 12 on eve of Fiba World Cup opener
FILE – Gilas Pilipinas during a game against Senegal in China. Photo from K Channy’s Instagram
MANILA, Philippines—Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes is in no rush to name the Final 12 for the Fiba World Cup as the “15-strong” roster continues to prepare for the global meet that starts in two weeks.
Reyes is expected to announce the final roster on the eve of the Fiba World Cup opener on August 25 with the Gilas Pilipinas still scheduled to play a couple of tune-up games on the same week for its final stretch of preparations.
“As far as I’m concerned this is the team. This is our team. We’re 15-strong,” said Reyes in an interview with One PH’s “Sa Totoo Lang.”
“Right now, our team is set.”
Gilas Pilipinas faces fellow World Cup teams Montenegro on August 20 and Mexico on August 21.
Gilas Pilipinas’ Scottie Thompson nursing an injured hand. –SBP PHOTO
“Our only injured player is Scottie Thompson, which makes him the 16th player. We have a team managers’ technical meeting from August 23 to 24 to name the Final 12.”
Scottie Thompson, who injured his hand during the Nationals’ Europe camp, is questionable to play but he remains to train with the team.
One player who is a shoo-in for the lineup is naturalized player Jordan Clarkson who just arrived in the country earlier this week and joined the training for the first time on Wednesday.
Should Reyes keep his recent Gilas core, he will enjoy the services of the players who most recently played in a pocket tournament in China.
That pool included Dwight Ramos, Jamie Malonzo, AJ Edu, Chris Newsome, Japeth Aguilar, Kiefer Ravena, June Mar Fajardo, Calvin Oftana, Roger Pogoy, CJ Perez, Ray Parks Jr. and Rhenz Abando.
