With Gilas Pilipinas out of contention in the 2017 FIBA Asia Cup, the Chot Reyes-mentored squad will field just 10 players the rest of the way, as Christian Standhardinger and Carl Cruz are set to fly back home, according to SEA Games head coach Jong Uichico.
“Christian will fly back to Manila I think tonight,” Uichico disclosed Thursday afternoon during the send-off to Gilas for the SEA Games. “Then he will fly with us to Malaysia.
“Same thing with Carl I think,” he added.
Standhardinger is averaging 16.0 points and 5.7 rebounds in 23.4 minutes per game in the continental meet, while Cruz is posting norms of 6.0 points and 1.0 boards in 15.6 minutes of action.
The two will beef up Gilas’ frontline that already includes Troy Rosario and Raymar Jose.
Gilas is gunning for its 18th gold medal in the regional meet.
The FIBA Asia Cup team, on the other hand, takes on host Lebanon on Saturday, August 19, in the placement round.
