Not set in stone

San Miguel Beer’s Marcio Lassiter and Rain Or Shine’s Paul Lee were glaringly absent from the 16-man Gilas pool announced the other day by the PBA upon the request of the SBP and national team head coach Tab Baldwin.

The pool is made up of Jayson Castro, Ranidel de Ocampo, Matt Ganuelas-Rosser, Kelly Williams, Asi Taulava, Terrence Romeo, Aldrech Ramos, Gary David, J. C. Intal, Gabe Norwood, Sonny Thoss, Dondon Hontiveros, Calvin Abueva, JuneMar Fajardo, Marc Pingris and L. A. Tenorio. Including naturalized player Andray Blatche who arrived from Miami via Atlanta and Seoul last Sunday night, the pool lists 17 players.

Fajardo, Pingris and Tenorio are excused from practice which officially started at the Meralco Gym last Monday night. Unofficial practice began Wednesday last week with Intal and Romeo reporting for work early. Abueva showed up for his first practice last Monday. Fajardo has asked for more healing time as he is hurting from plantar fasciitis in his left foot. Pingris is in France on a family matter until Aug. 12 while Tenorio has asked to be delisted because of fatigue. Lassiter is in the US with his mother who is critically ill with cancer. It is not certain when he will return. Lee took a vacation in the US but supposedly came home last Monday.

A source said there was some miscommunication during the meetings between Gilas coaches and PBA team representatives, leading to a bit of misunderstanding. The same source said the issues were not political.

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“Apparently, it was suggested that JuneMar be examined by doctors to determine the extent of his injury and whether he can catch up with practice,” said the source. “There was some discussion on which doctors will examine JuneMar and that didn’t sit well because it insinuated some distrust. Then, in the case of another team, three players were requested but when it was mentioned that some were not immediately available, there was negative reaction. When media was referred to as a pressure point, the team official felt it was a threat and obviously, didn’t like it. But things are being ironed out. We were just too excited to get practice started with all the players present from Day 1. We must realize that every player has different circumstances.”

In the US, the national coach is in a position to strike out players who aren’t able to attend the first day of practice for whatever reason because there are many more players to choose from. With Gilas, there can only be one Fajardo, one Lee, one Jeff Chan, one Lassiter and one Pingris. Adjustments must therefore be made to accommodate players who are coming off an exhausting season, recovering from injuries or attending to personal issues. Accommodations or absences, however, must be within reason.

The announcement of the 16-man pool came with this qualification: “In our desire to form the best national team for the FIBA Asia Championships on Sept. 23-Oct. 3, the PBA is endorsing to the SBP an initial list of players. Should there be additional names in the next few days, we will immediately inform the SBP.” It only means that the lineup is not set in stone.

PBA chairman Patrick Gregorio and PBA CEO Chito Salud are at the forefront of the effort to form the most competitive Gilas lineup. As more players become available, the Gilas pool may be expanded so flexibility is critical. The possibility of enlisting Lassiter and Lee is not a closed door.

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Japeth Aguilar, who was on the Gilas team at the FIBA World Cup in Spain last year, is not in the pool because of a dislocated finger. Baldwin knew Aguilar wouldn’t be available due to the injury as early as three weeks ago. With Chan not in the lineup, it’s understandable why Ramos, David, Hontiveros and Intal were picked. Baldwin needs outside shooters from different positions – David and Hontiveros are off-guards while Ramos and Intal are wings. De Ocampo will settle in at three with Blatche at four and Fajardo, Taulava and Thoss alternating at five.

Abueva and Romeo were standouts at the recent FIBA 3x3 World Tour Manila Masters leg as they proved their mettle against foreign competition. No doubt, they’re ready to make the transition to Gilas. Abueva plays with unrestricted intensity and is fearless like Pingris. Romeo is a lights-out gunner, a sneaky penetrator and a reliable finisher. If more players become available for Baldwin, it will be a major challenge to trim the roster to 12.

The goal is for Gilas to top the FIBA Asia Championships and gain the right to represent Asia at the 2016 Rio Olympics. The Philippines ended a 36-year wait to return to the FIBA World Cup in Spain and hasn’t played hoops at the Olympics since 1972. The task is daunting and it requires total cooperation, maximum tolerance and a lot of sacrifice to get every stakeholder on the same page. There will be sensitivities breached, feelings bruised and toes stepped on because pressure has a way of unsettling nerves but in the end, it must be realized that this effort is for flag and country. No one is out for personal glory. Forget the past and move on. The Philippines is in a battle and the only way to win is to fight as one solid team.