IS Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes playing coy?
As crunch time nears, Reyes said his final 12-man line-up for the FIBA World Cup will only be known on the eve of the team’s debut against the Dominican Republic.
“Right now, our team is set, we have 15 players. Ang injured na lang natin ay si Scottie Thompson, ang 16th player natin,” Reyes said. “We have the team managers’ technical meeting on Aug. 23 to 24 to name the final 12.
“We’re not in a rush. But as far as I’m concerned ito iyong team. This is our team. We’re 15-strong. Ito iyong team natin,” he added.
The Philippine five takes on the Dominicans on Aug. 25 at the cavernous Philippine Arena in the opener of the world cage spectacle.
Reyes is rallying Filipinos to support their bid in the World Cup.
“Ngayon more than ever, kailangang-kailangan ng ating mga player ang suporta ng mamamayang Pilipino. All we ask from our countrymen, sa ating mga kababayan, is to continue supporting,” Reyes said.
“We may not agree with some of the decisions we make, but in the end iisa ang ating lahi, iisa ang ating dugo.”
Despite missing the likes of NBA standout Jordan Clarkson, prized big man Kai Sotto, and reigning PBA MVP Scottie Thompson in the Heyuan WUS International Basketball Tournament in Guangdong last week, the Nationals wound up with a 3-1 mark in a development seen as big boost to its preparations for the prestigious tilt the country is co-hosting with Japan and Indonesia from Aug. 25 to Sept. 10.
A pair of tune-up matches against Mexico and Montenegro are also in the offing for Gilas before the World Cup where it will do battle in Group A.
The squad needs to finish at least in the top two at the end of the group stage to advance to the next round and fan its hopes of becoming the best placed Asian squad to directly qualify for the Paris Olympics next year.
