Gilas Pilipinas head coach Tab Baldwin said on Wednesday night that the national team will pick its final 14 players from a pool of 15.
Speaking to the press after Gilas defeated Iran, 81-70 in the Road to Glory exhibition match, Baldwin said rather than announcing the final 14 names, the Gilas coaching staff is still deliberating about the matter overnight.
[PHOTOS/VIDEOS: Gilas surge past young Iran squad]
“We aren’t announcing that, I hate to disappoint everybody. I just talked to the players about it, coaches are going to dinner now, sit down, and were gonna make final decisions,” Baldwin said. “Actually we were close to a decision but tonight’s game made us rethink things.”
Baldwin said the 13 players which suited up in the tune-up match against Iran — Andray Blatche, Japeth Aguilar, June Mar Fajardo, Marc Pingris, Ranidel de Ocampo, Troy Rosario, Ray Parks, Calvin Abueva, Gabe Norwood, Ryan Reyes, Terrence Romeo, Jayson Castro, and LA Tenorio — and injured two guards Jeff Chan and Marcio Lassiter are all in consideration for the squad’s European training camp.
“That is what we play those games for. Those games are designed to help us make final decisions so it is credit to the players for making this decision extremely difficult,” Baldwin added.
2015 PBA Draft first overall pick Mo Tautuaa played in the tune-up against Iran
“I can say Mo (Tautuaa) and Kiefer (Ravena) are not in consideration for the training camp in Greece. That brings the number down to 15. Marcio and Jeff are still both in consideration for the trip.”
Baldwin added it will be a difficult decision to make and that the team shall make “an intelligent decision” about the matter.
“We anticipate having to make a decision on one player. That’s what were gonna go and sit down and argue with each other about. That’s really what it is all about,” Baldwin said.
Gilas cadet member Kiefer Ravena did not make the final 14 as well
“We are going to try and put all the factors together. rather than being a lotto, we will make an intelligent decision,” he added. “Right now, we feel like we are just picking a name out of a hat. “
“It’s that tough to make a decision, so credit to the players for all the work that they’ve done. That’s where we are at as far as selection issue.”
