RETURNING Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes will play with the cards he’s dealt with.
Reyes admitted he wanted to have big men Justine Baltazar of La Salle and Carl Tamayo of University of the Philippines in the national team training pool for the FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers later this month.
But Baltazar, who is set to play his final year for the Green Archers, and Tamayo, an incoming rookie at UP, are not available due to their commitments with their respective schools for the 84th UAAP basketball tournament tentatively set next month.
“We wanted to get Carl Tamayo here, but he was not allowed by his school. Same thing I think with Justine Baltazar,” Reyes said recently on Radyo5 92.3 News FM’s Power and Play program hosted by former PBA Commissioner Noli Eala.
“With all the other players, different circumstances. So, you know, we are going with what we have,” he added.
Not having the promising duo of Baltazar and Tamayo disappointed Reyes.
“Ang gusto ko sana talaga, iyong line-up dito sa February, while we can be as competitive as possible, is still very developmental in nature,” Reyes said.
“Kaya ang laking bagay sa akin, sana nandito si Carl Tamayo, sana nandito si Justine Baltazar, sana all of those young guys could come and join us. But unfortunately, mukhang hindi.”
