Ex-captain Gabe Norwood likes Gilas’ chances with Fajardo and Aguilar playing for FIBA Asia Cup

GILAS PILIPINAS twin towers June Mar Fajardo and Japeth Aguilar were not able to play for Gilas Pilipinas when the team competed in the 2015 FIBA Asia Cup in China, but with the PBA’s leading front liners joining the national team this time, the Philippines will have a good shot at winning the elusive gold medal in this tournament.

Former team captain Gabe Norwood, a last-minute inclusion in the pool, believes the present batch of Gilas players along with the inclusion of Messrs. Fajardo and Aguilar in this year’s edition of the tournament, has put the country back as among the favorites to win the gold medal.

“Whenever you see these two big players joining the team, it definitely gives Gilas a big boost,” Mr. Norwood told Business World in a telephone interview.

Two years ago, Mr. Fajardo, the 6-foot-10 reigning three-time Most Valuable Player, missed the chance of playing for the Philippine team due to a plantar fasciitis injury.

Mr. Aguilar, a 6-foot-9 athletic forward, also failed to participate after undergoing operation on his dislocated finger.

But the two front liners will be back in action in the FIBA Asia Cup and they were welcomed back to the program by head coach Chot Reyes a few months ago to play for the SEABA Men’s Championship, an event which we dominated that allowed us to secure a berth in the FIBA Asia Cup.

The last time the Philippines won the gold medal was in January 1986 when the Philippine squad bannered by naturalized players Jeff Moore and Dennis Still and featured amateur standouts Allan Caidic, Samboy Lim and Hector Calma among others defeated China.

The Filipinos came close to winning the gold medal in the past two editions, but lost to Iran in the finals of the 2013 Games in Manila and the 2015 edition to host China.

This year, Mr. Norwood sees this as a great opportunity for the Philippines to reclaim Asian supremacy, especially if it can have Andray Blatche on board. —