Injuries to Blatche, 4 others hound Gilas

MANILA, Philippines - If given the go-signal to proceed with their mission in the Asian Games, coach Chot Reyes and his Gilas Pilipinas squad should go back to training camp within the week with a plan to fly to Incheon, Korea on Sept. 19, a week before the start their 2014 Asiad quest versus Iran.

If Reyes’ original plan doesn’t change, Gilas resumes practice tomorrow though it’s doubtful if they can gather all the players since most of them are badly banged up from the grueling FIBA World Cup campaign.

Andray Blatche, Marc Pingris, Ranidel de Ocampo, Jayson Castro and Paul Lee all left Spain nursing injuries.

“We’re not healthy at all,” said Reyes, leading the last Gilas group that returned home from Spain Tuesday afternoon.

Gilas Pilipinas is hurt, tired and weary after being away for 45 days in a journey that ended with a historic win over Senegal in the final day of FIBA World Cup Group B competition in Seville Friday.

Reyes doesn’t want to think about the Asian Games yet.

“We’re tired and we miss our families. Now is not the time to ask about our preparedness for the Asian Games mainly because after that grueling trip, we’re in no frame of mind at all,” said Reyes as quoted by InterAksyon.com.

“In five games or one week, it will be different, but if you’re asking me now, our main objective is to rest and recover,” Reyes also said.

Alapag had the same thing in mind, resting especially as there’s a big possibility he may be requested to extend his tour of duty with the national team all the way to the Incheon Games.

With his superb showing in the FIBA World Cup, there had been a strong clamor for Alapag to reconsider his retirement and lead the national team again in Incheon.

Alapag and Reyes have agreed to talk in the next few days.

Reyes said there might really be the need to change his Asiad lineup because of injuries.

“Injuries are cause for reason to change. And (Asian Games officials) surely saw our players hurt in the FIBA World Cup. Hindi nga nakalaro si Jayson (Castro) sa last game di ba,” said Reyes.

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas is still making one last try to get IAGOC’s nod on Blatche’s inclusion in the lineup that includes Junmar Fajardo, De Ocampo, Japeth Aguilar, Pingris, Gabe Norwood, Jeff Chan, Gary David, LA Tenorio, Lee, Castro and Jared Dillinger.

Alapag has said he’s open to deferring his retirement plan.