The warriors who have a chance to carry the country’s colors for the Smart Gilas Pilipinas team that will battle Asia’s best basketball teams in the FIBA Asia Championships for a slot in the 2014 World Cup were named by head coach Chot Reyes. And there were hardly any surprises.
The usual suspects were on board, most of whom came from the core of the Gilas squad that took the crown in the 2012 Jones Cup in Taiwan.
Named to the training pool were Jones Cup MVP, LA Tenorio of Ginebra, Gary David of GlobalPort, Gabe Norwood and Jeff Chan of Rain or Shine, Sonny Thoss of Alaska and Jared Dillinger, Larry Fonacier and Ranidel de Ocampo of Talk ‘N Text. Also on the squad is naturalized player Marcus Douthit.
Expected to add firepower and skill to that squad are San Mig Coffee’s Marc Pingris, Petron rookie and Cebuano Junemar Fajardo, Texters’ Jimmy Alapag, Kelly Williams and Ryan Reyes, newly-minted Japeth Aguilar of GlobalPort and another Cebuano, former Ateneo and current NLEX Road Warrior Greg Slaughter.
However, a notable name was nowhere to be found on the list. This was Petron forward Arwind Santos, who was vocal in his desire to represent the country and pay for the Gilas Pilipinas. Sadly though, the San Miguel Corporation has been reluctant to lend the perennial MVP candidate to the national squad.
And so, the stage has been set for the preparation of the Gilas Pilipinas for the FIBA Asia Championships, which will be hosted by the Philippines for the first time in 40 years.
The PBA Board has earlier agreed to shorten the Governor’s Cup to give the Gilas a solid two months of preparation for the battle that lies ahead.