CAN this version of Gilas Pilipinas’ “Redeem Team” get the job done and regain the medal that matters most to Filipinos?
The team left for the 32nd Cambodia Southeast Asian Games last Saturday, determined to make up for the country’s failure to bag the gold in last year’s Vietnam games.
While admitting they will have their hands full, Gilas coach Chot Reyes is convinced he has a better squad this time around compared to the Philippine five that wound up with a disappointing silver last year in Hanoi.
“I think we really have a good chance. But we’ll really know when we get there, because we all know the lineups already of the other teams, right?” Reyes said. “The field is so much stronger than last year. While we do like our chances, and I think we have a better team now, not individual players but a better team.
“So is the opposition. Our competition has significantly improved well. So, it remains to be seen how the other teams play,” he added.
Reyes bared his final 12-man line-up yesterday, with naturalized Filipino forward Justin Brownlee leading the team that also includes PBA stars Christian Standhardinger, CJ Perez, Marcio Lassiter, skipper Chris Ross, Calvin Oftana, Chris Newsome, Arvin Tolentino, and Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser.
Collegiate standouts Jerom Lastimosa, Michael Phillips, and Mason Amos were also tapped to reinforce Gilas.
Named as reserves were Aaron Black and Ben Phillips, while Jeremiah Gray, who was part of the 15-man national training pool that toughened up for nearly a week at the Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba, did not join the trip after being bothered by a hurting knee.
“He’s not a hundred percent,” Reyes said, referring to Gray. “He’s feeling something in his leg.”
Gilas is bracketed in Group A and will open its redemption bid against Malaysia tomorrow at the Morodok Techno National Stadium Elephant Hall 2 in Phnom Penh.
The Filipino cagers clash with the host on Thursday and Singapore two days later.
Group B is made up of defending champion Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos.
The top two teams in each group will advance to the crossover semifinals on May 15, with the winners reaching the gold medal match on May 16.
