GILAS Pilipinas is raring to prove its worth in the first window of the 2023 FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers while keeping an eye out on the future.
Coach Chot Reyes said he will likely field different 12-man rosters from the 22-man national team training pool for the games this week that will also serve as a stern test for the young guns.
“Not only because it’s four games in five days, but also because we want to be able to try as many players as possible, especially those who haven’t had a chance to really play from the young guys so that we can hopefully give them some court time,” Reyes said on the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas website.
“I think that’s the value of these windows and I’ve always said it — we want to be competitive while at the same time still having an eye for the future,” he added.
The Filipino cagers launch their bid when they tangle with rival South Korea this Thursday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum where fans are now allowed to watch the February window.
Initially, the SBP said spectators are prohibited but the improving COVID-19 situation paved the way for the Big Dome to open its gates to live audience but still must follow strict health and safety protocols. Only fully vaccinated individuals aged 12 and above are allowed inside.
Fans are required to present their vaccination cards together with a valid ID, and use of a face mask inside the venue is mandatory. Food will only be allowed at the concourse of the coliseum, not at the audience area.
Smart Araneta is also employing a strict “No Kyusi pass, no entry” policy.
Gilas squares off with the South Koreans anew next Monday and India on Friday, and New Zealand on Sunday.
Reyes is also wary of injuries to his charges that explains the number of players in the pool.
“We wanted to augment the remaining players in the original Gilas pool with as many players as possible because we couldn’t predict injuries,” Reyes said.
“So, we wanted to have as many. We wanted to keep our options open as possible. That’s what accounts for the number of players in the pool. In case, knock on wood, I hope it doesn’t happen, something goes wrong, we have options.”
Thirteen TNT players led by Jayson Castro, along with Roger Pogoy, Troy Rosario, JP Erram, Kelly Williams, Ryan Reyes, Carl Bryan Cruz, and Matt Ganuelas-Rosser make up the core of the Tropang Giga who are set to backstop the Nationals.
Other members of reigning PBA Philippine Cup champion TNT who made the pool are Jjay Alejandro, and first-timers Kib Montalbo, Brian Heruela, Glenn Khobuntin, and Gab Banal.
Spearheading the pool are NorthPort star Robert Bolick, Japan B.League imports Thirdy Ravena and Dwight Ramos, Juan Gomez de Liaño, William Navarro, Jaydee Tungcab, Tzaddy Rangel, LeBron Lopez, and naturalized player Ange Kouame.
