NEARLY one month after they broke training camp, can Gilas Pilipinas pool members pick up where they left off?
Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Al Panlilio hopes so.
“We appreciate everyone’s eagerness to rejoin the bubble and we’re hopeful that the team will get to pick up where it left off before they broke camp,” Panlilio said in a statement.
“The FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers and the OQT are fast approaching and although the postponements have been tough on everyone, we remain confident that this training pool will put in the work necessary to perform at its best,” he added.
The all-amateur Philippine five hit the ground running anew yesterday at the Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba, Laguna for two coming international tournaments.
The SBP also officially announced the 20-man pool led by Ateneo center Ange Kouame, a naturalized player candidate; 2019 Gilas special draftees Isaac Go, Rey Suerte, twins Matt and Mike Nieto, and Jordan Heading, William Navarro, Tzaddy Rangel, and Jaydee Tungcab, who were also tabbed in the Gilas draft last month.
Completing the pool are Justine Baltazar of La Salle, University of the Philippines’ Javi Gomez de Liaño and Carl Tamayo, Kemark Cariño of San Beda University, Far Eastern University’s RJ Abarrientos, and the Blue Eagles’ Dave Ildefonso, Lebron Lopez, SJ Belangel, Jason Credo, and Geo Chiu.
Ateneo’s Dwight Ramos is also part of the pool although he is still in the United States.
Cut were the Eagles’ Chris Koon, Gian Mamuyac, Troy Mallillin, Josh Lazaro, and Kyle Ong.
The SBP is also still working on the possible inclusion of 7-foot-3 center Kai Sotto.
Panlilio maintained precautions were followed in the return of the pool to training.
“The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas heeded the instructions of the Philippine Sports Commission when they asked all national athletes to half their training during the enhanced community quarantine. When the IATF announced that they will be lifting those limitations, we immediately worked on getting the team back together,” he said.
“Of course, there were protocols that we had to complete including the testing for all members of the pool but the team’s ready to go back to work.”
