Baldwin tinapik uli si Tautuaa

MANILA, Philippines – Siyam lamang ang nakapagsuot ng practice jersey dahil sa kakulangan ng mga players sa ikalawang practice session ng Gilas Pilipinas sa Meralco Gym sa Pasig noong Lunes ng gabi.

Sumalang sina June Mar Fajardo at Marc Pingris sa SMC commercial shoot kasama si host/comedian Vic Sotto, habang may injury naman sina Ian Sangalang at Ranidel de Ocampo.

Hindi rin dumating sina Greg Slaughter, Japeth Aguilar, LA Tenorio, Paul Lee at Jeff Chan na nakasi­bilyan.

Muling kinuha ng Gilas si Talk ‘N Text Fil-Am rookie Moala Tautuaa bilang backup naturalized player.

“Mo is our fallback option. It’s like an insurance policy,” wika ni coach Tab Baldwin.

Sa light workouts ay muling nakasama ni Tautuaa sina Gilas regulars Calvin Abueva, Troy Rosario, Matt Ganuelas-Rosser, Gabe Norwood, Terrence Romeo, Marcio Lassiter, Jayson Castro at Ryan Reyes.

Naging backup si Tautuaa kay Andray Blatche sa nakaraang Gilas team.

“It feels good. I like being here,” ani Tautuaa, nakasama ng Gilas sa Estonian invitational at sa Jones Cup kung saan sila puma­ngalawa sa nagkampeong Iran.

Muli namang nakasama sa Gilas coaching staff si Alaska Milk coach Alex Compton.

“Coach Tab (Baldwin) is doing a fantastic job. And thinking about the combination of being able to both serve the country and learn from an incre­dible coach, I am grateful to be given such a wonderful opportunity,” ani Compton.