Gilas line-up puwede pang baguhin ni Chot Para sa 2014 FIBA World Cup

MANILA, Philippines - Naipangakong ang 12-man lineup ng Gilas Pilipinas na kumatawan sa Philippines sa FIBA-Asia Championships noong Agosto ay ipapadala sa Spain para sa 2014 FIBA World Cup sa Aug. 30-Sept. 14.

Ngunit walang garantiya kung makakalaro sila sa 24-nation tournament, kaya maaaring magpalit si Gilas coach Chot Reyes ng player sa roster.

Bukod sa 12 players, kasama si reserve Beau Belga sa bibiyahe patungong Spain kasama ni Reyes at ng kanyang coaching staff na binubuo nina Jong Uichico, Norman Black at Josh Reyes. 

Bagama’t walang garantiya, ang mga players na inaasahang lalaro sa Spain ay sina  FIBA-Asia Championships Mythical Five Jayson Castro at naturalized  Filipino citizen Marcus Douthit. 

Ang ibang miyembro ng Gilas team na nagtapos bilang runner- tournament ay sina Jimmy Alapag, Jeff Chan, Gary David, Gabe Norwood, Larry Fonacier, Japeth Aguilar, Marc Pingris, L. A. Tenorio, Ranidel de Ocampo at JuneMar Fajardo.

Ilan sa mga maaaring isama sa team ay sina Marcio Lassiter, Greg Slaughter, Arwind Santos, Sonny Thoss, Kelly Williams at Jay Washington.

“I’m open to additions to the pool,” sabi ni Chot Reyes.  “But I’m hesitant to name anyone pending approval from the PBA Board.  As of now, we can only start full training with the complete team on Aug. 15 unless the two finalists of the last conference do not have Gilas members in which case the complete team can start by Aug. 1.”

Maiksing panahon lang makakapagsanay ang ilalabang koponan. Karaniwan, dalawa hanggang tatlong buwan ang preparasyon para sa  malalaking tournament tulad ng FIBA World Cup ngunit ang Gilas ay may dalawang linggo hanggang isang buwan lamang makakapagsanay ng kumpleto at wala nang magagawang international boot camp.   Ang Gilas Pilipinas ay may two-month training period para sa FIBA-Asia Championships at nag-training camp sa Lithuania at New Zealand. 

 â€œWe cannot play in any pre-World Cup tournaments because there are only one-week breaks in between PBA conferences,” sabi pa ni Reyes.  “We will begin Mondays only practices after the first conference finals in mid-February. No foreign training, no tune-up tourneys as there are only two weeks from the time the PBA ends and the World Cup begins on Aug. 30.”

Mula sa Spain, sasabak naman ang Gilas sa Asian Games sa Incheon sa Sept. 19-Oct. 4.