GILAS Pilipinas interim coach Tim Cone is convinced returning players Calvin Abueva, Terrence Romeo, and Mo Tautuaa and newcomer Jason Perkins will serve the nationals in good stead in their drive in the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou.
“Watching the new guys like Calvin, Terrence, Jason, and Mo, it’s always nice to see people interact with the new group. I just don’t see any issues or whatever. These guys want to be here. They’re excited. Maybe the holdovers of the World Cup are already tired, playing in the World Cup and then the Asian Games,” Cone said. “The Asian Games is nice but it’s not the World Cup, so you got pumped up for the World Cup and then it wanes.
“In a way, it’s good that we have this fresh blood that’s coming in– they’re super motivated and they could affect the rest of the other guys,” he added.
Abueva and Romeo are suiting up for Gilas anew after last seeing action in the infamous brawl with Australia in a FIBA World Cup Asian qualifying match at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue in 2018.
Perkins is making his debut with the squad while Tautuaa last played for the squad in the Southeast Asian Games last year in Hanoi.
Cone admitted they wanted to field Japan B. League-based standouts Dwight Ramos, AJ Edu, and Kiefer Ravena, and Korea Basketball League star Rhenz Abando and even UAAP cagers Mason Amos and Mike Phillips but they are not available.
“We love to have Dwight, Edu, Kiefer, and others for the national team. We tried to get Mason Amos and Mike Philips from the UAAP. We searched far and wide for everybody. We love to have Rhenz Abando but those are not available,” Cone said.
“We only have two weeks. We can’t afford to wait five to seven days for Dwight Ramos or AJ Edu to show up because they will only have four days to practice.”
Naturalized players Justin Brownlee, Ange Kouame, and Tautuaa spearhead the 12-man crew that also features World Cup campaigners Scottie Thompson, June Mar Fajardo, Japeth Aguilar, and Roger Pogoy.
Completing the Philippine five for the Asiad are Calvin Oftana and Chris Newsome, while Stanley Pringle will serve as an alternate player.
Bracketed in Group C, Gilas opens its bid against Bahrain on Sept. 26.
