WHO among the TNT players will be tapped for the Gilas Pilipinas pool?
Coach Chot Reyes admitted those who previously suited up for the Nationals have the inside track, but added they are not shoo-ins.
“Obviously, between a player who has never had an experience and a player who had experience, siyempre may advantage na iyong may experience because in the FIBA, the international game is very different,” Reyes said yesterday in the online Philippine Sportswriters Association forum.
“But having said that, the final decision will still depend upon who are the remaining original Gilas players that we have. It will be an advantage but it’s not an assurance,” he added.
The likes of Tropang Giga star playmaker Jayson Castro, Roger Pogoy, Troy Rosario, JP Erram, Kelly Williams, Ryan Reyes, and newly acquired Carl Bryan Cruz and Matt Ganuelas-Rosser have seen action for Gilas in the past.
The PBA board of governors gave the green light last week for Reyes to field the core of reigning Philippine Cup champion TNT for the 2023 FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Prized guard Dwight Ramos of Toyama in the Japan B. League has arrived to boost the pool that features Juan Gomez de Liaño, William Navarro, Jaydee Tungcab, Tzaddy Rangel, and naturalized player Ange Kouame.
Aside from the current players at his disposal, Reyes is still open for possible reinforcements without naming names.
“The team is a work in progress. We still don’t know what the final line-up is going to be, but hopefully in the next few days, meron pa,” Reyes said. “We want to keep our options open. We still have a few days before we are asked to submit our lineup.”
