Gilas Pilipinas head coach Chot Reyes admitted that the contingent for the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia this August has yet to be finalized, even if the deadline for lineup submission is tomorrow, June 10.
In an interview with Tiebreaker Times on Saturday during the 2018 FIBA 3X3 World Cup, Reyes shared that the reason behind the delay is that he and the SBP have yet to determine if they can still add players from outside the initial pool.
The problem sprung up last May 31, when the PBA board decided that they would help Gilas in the Asiad by sending the core of the TNT Katropa, plus one or two Alaska Aces players, to assist the young Cadets.
“Wala pa eh,” said Reyes. “Actually I think after all of this, tonight magmee-meeting kami. Kasi, as you know, we have to know na if yung mga ibang players na hindi kasama sa original pool will be allowed na maisingit, maihabol.
“‘Di ko alam eh. I’m waiting also for executive director Sonny Barrios,” added the long-time national team coach.
TNT’s core consists the faces of the Gilas program – Jayson Castro, Terrence Romeo, Roger Pogoy, and Troy Rosario. But what’s challenging the team is the inclusion of non-Gilas players such as Jericho Cruz and Don Trollano, who are projected to be included in the core but are not part of the 40-man pool initially submitted by the SBP last May.
Reyes said that they have a Plan B if ever worse comes to worst – if the Asiad committee won’t allow other players, that is. However, the veteran internationalist does not want to set anything in stone yet until further notice.
“Yes, we have a lineup in mind, like you say a worst case kung hindi maisingit yung mga players. But we don’t want to make any pronouncements.”
