The Gilas Men pool for the 2023 FIBA World Cup is down to just 20 players.
Carl Tamayo has begged off from the Gilas pool, head coach Chot Reyes told reporters on Monday evening after the team’s first practice session on Monday.
Tiebreaker Times has learned that the 6-foot-7 big man – who plays for B.League team Ryukyu – has been battling tendonitis over the past seven months. The next few months are his only time to heal and recover.
The primary cause of tendonitis is typically overuse or repetitive stress, although in some cases it may arise in areas with calcium deposits.
As a person grows older, repetitive motions associated with sports can lead to tendon injuries at the point where they connect to the bone. This can trigger an inflammatory response by the body.
This is a huge blow for Gilas as Tamayo is one of the most experienced players for the team this cycle.
In the last three years, the 22-year-old played in 11 FIBA-sanctioned games, including the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers, the Olympic Qualifying Tournament, the Asia Cup proper, and the World Cup Qualifiers.
Tamayo averaged 8.3 points and 3.7 rebounds in those games.
10 players practice
Only 10 of the possible 20 players arrived at the Meralco Gym on Monday, namely June Mar Fajardo, Japeth Aguilar, Kiefer and Thirdy Ravena, CJ Perez, Chris Newsome, Poy Erram, AJ Edu, Angelo Kouame, and Rhenz Abando, according to reports.
Edu and Erram sat out the session, though.
Justin Brownlee is still on his way to the country due to health and safety protocols, while Jordan Clarkson is still re-negotiating a new contract with Utah.
Kai Sotto, meanwhile, is in New York for a tryout with the Knicks.
Jordan Heading is also currently in the midst of negotiating a contract with a B1 team.
Also out were Dwight Ramos, Scottie Thompson, Roger Pogoy, Ray Parks, Calvin Oftana, and Jamie Malonzo.
Gilas will train at Meralco until Wednesday before heading to Inspire from Thursday to Sunday.
