Roger Pogoy couldn’t be grateful enough that he has finally made his way back to Gilas Pilipinas after serving his five-game suspension from that infamous brawl with Australia in the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers’ third window last year.
Pogoy is part of the 12-man team that will battle Kazakhstan in the sixth window on Sunday in Astana.
“Sobrang saya ko talaga na nakabalik na ako.
“Sobrang thankful ako kay coach Yeng [Guiao] at sa coaching staff na binigyan nila ako ulit ng chance to play for Gilas,” the TNT KaTropa star, who is averaging 7.0 points in the Qualifiers, told Tiebreaker Times, Saturday.
But as happy as he is, Pogoy didn’t deny that there’s pressure in his return, given Gilas’ current predicament.
Gilas (6-5) needs to reign victorious on Sunday to further boost the Philippines’ chances of entering the World Cup in China this July. If they fail to do so, then their dreams will shatter.
This is unfamiliar territory for Pogoy. Prior to being suspended, Pogoy and Gilas had been carrying a 4-2 record, which placed them second in Group B. They were the third-ranked team in Group F entering the second round.
“Oo, talagang may pressure,” admitted the 6-foot-2 guard, who has been part of the Gilas program since 2016. “Kasi must-win game ‘to para makapasok tayo sa World Cup.
“Kumbaga, huling baraha na. Last chance na natin ito.”
The Filipino cagers will face a different Kazakh team from the one that dealt them a stinging 88-92 defeat here in Manila back in the fifth window, following the arrival of naturalized player Anthony Clemmons.
Clemmons made his debut last February 21. Though they lost big to Australia, 60-81, the 6-foot-2 guard out of Iowa was impressive. Clemmons racked up 31 points on 12-of-21 shooting with four steals and three assists.
It is likely that Clemmons will suit up on Sunday, and he will definitely be another major concern for Gilas. But for Pogoy, who’s known as one of the team’s best defenders, he’s ready to step up and try to contain the 24-year-old.
“Sa basketball career ko, yan naman talaga trabaho ko. So ready lang ako, kung ako man pa-guwardiyahin sa kanya.”
