Best, brightest, former no-shows all show up

MANILA, Philippines - They’re all in. And coach Tab Baldwin couldn’t be happier seeing the cream of the crop gathered in one roof.

“It’s nice to have the cream of the Philippine basketball crop all on one court,” said Baldwin after drawing a perfect attendance from his 17-player pool in Day One of Gilas Pilipinas 4.0’s buildup for the 2016 Olympic world qualifier. “It was 100-percent attendance, so I’m 100-percent happy.”

Except for the injured Ranidel de Ocampo, all members of the pool showed up at the Meralco Gym Monday night, including the returning Junmar Fajardo, Marcio Lassiter, LA Tenorio, Japeth Aguilar, Greg Slaughter and Jeff Chan.

Despite an injury, Paul Lee also showed up, so did Alaska Milk’s Calvin Abueva, who came in practically straight from the airport from their two-game Dubai jaunt.

Gilas 3.0 team captain Dondon Hontiveros, Gary David and JC Intal, out of the current Gilas pool, also arrived and were presented by Baldwin as living testaments to the camaraderie formed by the previous Team Phl that clinched berth for the country to the Olympic wildcard play.

But Baldwin said it’s a long, long way to go but at least he now has the tools and materials he wants at his disposal.

“We’re a long way from anything, really, right now, but it’s very heartening, I’m sure, for the whole basketball community to see this group of guys on the floor,” Baldwin also said.

“A perfect attendance is a good start,” said Gilas team manager Butch Antonio.

Before sweating it out on the floor, Baldwin gathered the group in a conference room discussing the route they’re taking and things they want to achieve for the country.

Baldwin was visibly happy with the start of a journey which everyone hoped would lead to a triumphant ride back to the Olympics next year.

Not a single Gilas pool member was already born when the Philippines last played in the quadrennial games in 1972 in Munich with a team led by Bogs Adornado, Jimmy Mariano and Robert Jaworski.

Baldwin and his pool will work out every Monday night until the end of the PBA second conference where they start stepping up preparation for their Olympic wildcard play stint earned on Gilas 3.0’s second-place finish behind China in the recent Changsha FIBA Asia.

Fajardo, no-show in the previous Gilas team supposedly due to an injury, said he’s happy to be back with the national team.

Naturalized player Andray Blatche is also expected to rejoin Gilas at the end of the current Chinese league season next year.

SBP executive director Sonny Barrios said they’re now working out with Blatche’s agent for a new contract.