With the majority of the players in Gilas Pilipinas’ pool for the FIBA World Cup still playing in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semis, the team got a much-needed lift from an old reliable.
Asi Taulava joined Gilas’ session, as only eight pool players arrived at the Meralco Gym in Pasig, Monday evening.
Taulava played in two games during the Asian Qualifiers, averaging 3.0 points.
Pool members present were Kiefer Ravena, Andray Blatche, Paul Lee, Mark Barroca, JP Erram, Raymond Almazan, Matthew Wright, and CJ Perez.
Noticeably absent was Robert Bolick, as NorthPort have already been eliminated from the ongoing PBA wars.
June Mar Fajardo and Christian Standhardinger are currently at the SM Mall of Asia Arena together with Beau Belga and Gabe Norwood. San Miguel and Rain or Shine are currently figuring in Game Two of their series.
Ginebra players Japeth Aguilar and Stanley Pringle, and TNT players Roger Pogoy and Troy Rosario were also not in attendance, since their squads are still duking it out in the other semis bracket.
Marcio Lassiter is nursing a left knee injury.
NBA pro Jordan Clarkson is also part of the 19-man pool submitted by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas to the International Basketball Federation.
This is the first of the five-times-a-week sessions of Gilas before they leave for Spain on August 4.
