GILAS Pilipinas is raring to show its worth in the sixth window of the FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers, but a depleted frontline gnaws at coach Chot Reyes.
Prized 7-foot-3 center Kai Sotto has been ruled out of the qualifiers since he is set to join Hiroshima in the Japan B. League, while Carl Tamayo has left the country and is headed to Okinawa.
Sotto was good for 13.0 points and 10.5 rebounds in two games played in the qualifiers, while Tamayo averaged 8.3 markers and 5.3 boards in three matches.
Ginebra big man Japeth Aguilar is also out due to an MCL strain, with his 8.0 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in three games to be sorely missed.
Naturalized Filipino Ange Kouame is also doubtful since he has yet to recover from malaria, while Raymond Almazan has yet to be given the green light by Meralco.
Reyes has tapped veteran Kelly Williams to beef up the nationals’ big men rotation. Williams, 41, is hoping to give the squad the much-needed boost.
“With Japeth (Aguilar) and Kai (Sotto) out and obviously big Ange (Kouame), coach is kind of scrambling. Let’s see what happens. But right now, it’s just the pool,” Williams said. “We’ll just see what happens. If that’s what he needs me to do, then I’ll be there. Until then, we’ll just see.
“It’s always a great honor to just be considered amongst the greatest in the Philippines. If I can be able to suit up alongside those guys and alongside those names, then awesome. But we’ll see,” he added.
Naturalized Filipino player Justin Brownlee banners the national team training pool that includes with PBA stars June Mar Fajardo of San Miguel Beer, reigning MVP Scottie Thompson of Ginebra, the Beermen’s CJ Perez, Roger Pogoyof TNT, the Kings’ Japeth Aguilar, Chris Newsome of Meralco, the Tropang Giga’s Calvin Oftana, Arvin Tolentino of NorthPort, and Ginebra’s Jamie Malonzo.
The other members of the pool are Mason Amos and Schonny Winston and Japan B. League campaigners Kiefer and Thirdy Ravena, Bobby Ray Parks Jr., Jordan Heading, and Dwight Ramos.
Gilas will take on Lebanon on Feb. 24 and Jordan three days later in the final window of the Asian qualifiers at the 55,000-seat Philippine Arena.
