‘Bulk’ of Gilas Pilipinas crew for Asian Games to feature new players
MANILA, Philippines – A rejigged roster vastly different from the Gilas Pilipinas’ lineup in the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers will try to defend the Philippines’ throne in the Asian Games.
Head coach Tim Cone said the “bulk” of the Philippines’ Asian Games squad will be new faces as the team grapples with the unavailability of Filipino imports who play in the Japan B. League and Korean Basketball League.
B. League standouts Dwight Ramos, AJ Edu, Quentin Millora-Brown, and Mike Phillips, as well as KBL stalwarts Kevin Quiambao and Carl Tamayo, are expected to miss the quadrennial showpiece, leaving half the squad unfilled.
Much like the 2023 edition, where the Gilas Pilipinas ended a six-decade gold-medal drought, the country will once again be represented mostly by PBA players led by Barangay Ginebra resident import Justin Brownlee.
“None of the Japan or Korea players can play in the Asian Games. So, we just decided that we would pretty much bring an all-PBA contingent for the Asian Games, along with Justin,” said Cone.
PBA players not part of the current national team but included in the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas’ 30-man pool for the Asian Games are TNT’s Jordan Heading and Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser, Rain or Shine’s Adrian Nocum and Caelan Tiongson, Converge’s Justin Arana, NLEX’s Robert Bolick, Blackwater’s Sedrick Barefield, Magnolia’s Zavier Lucero, San Miguel’s Don Trollano and Jerrick Ahanmisi, Phoenix’s Jason Perkins, and Meralco’s Brandon Bates.
Of course, national team holdovers June Mar Fajardo and CJ Perez of San Miguel, Scottie Thompson, RJ Abarrientos, and Troy Rosario of Barangay Ginebra, Calvin Oftana of TNT, Juan Gomez de Liaño and Justine Baltazar of Converge, and Chris Newsome of Meralco were included.
Fajardo, however, is uncertain for the Asian Games as Cone bared that the nine-time PBA MVP had wanted to retire from national team duties but agreed to play in the fourth window of the Asian Qualifiers this August due to the Philippines’ manpower issues, with big men Millora-Brown, Phillips, and Kai Sotto set to sit out.
Sotto is another major question mark for the Asian Games, with Cone saying there is “no word” on whether the 7-foot-3 star will suit up.
“One or two or three from the window team to join. But the bulk of the team will be new,” said Cone.
Cone also has his fingers crossed that Benny Boatwright will make it in time for the Asian Games, as the bill granting him Filipino citizenship still needs the signature of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
“We’re hoping that Benny would be all right to play in the Asian Games — that looks very doubtful at this point. But we’re still holding out hope,” said Cone.
The basketball competitions of the Asian Games to be staged in Nagoya, Japan, will tip off on September 10, earlier than the official start of the continental showdown on September 19.
Gilas Pilipinas got bunched with powerhouse China, Bahrain, and Kazakhstan in Group C.
– Rappler.com
