PBA rival players united for Gilas

MANILA - Even with an unresolved PBA board issue, the PBA teams remain united in support of the Gilas national pool set to leave for Tokyo Tuesday to open its Asian World Cup qualifier campaign versus Team Japan on Friday.

From 15 players affiliated with opposing blocs in the PBA will come 11 men who'll team up with naturalized player Andray Blatche in the Phl-Japan setto slated at the Komazawa Gymnasium in the Japanese capital.

Three days later, Gilas plays its first home game in the reformatted "WC" qualifiers versus Chinese Taipei at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

June Mar Fajardo, Japeth Aguilar, Raymond Almazan, Gabe Norwood, Allein Maliksi, Troy Rosario, Matthew Wright, Kiefer Ravena, Kevin Alas, RR Pogoy, Mac Belo and Carl Bryan Cruz joined the coaching staff and management in attending the sendoff rites in Crown Plaza Hotel Saturday.

Jayson Castro, Calvin Abueva and Terrence Romeo were absent as they're nursing different health problems.

Looking shoo-ins to make up the frontcourt with Blatche are Fajardo, Aguilar and Almazan.

With Romeo doubtful due a knee injury, Castro, Ravena and Alas are the team's options at the point. Abueva, Cruz, Wright, Norwood, Rosario, Belo, Pogoy and Maliksi, meanwhile, fight for spots in the wings.

National coach Chot Reyes said all 16 players will be brought to Japan.

"We really don't know yet at this point. We will make the lineup the night before the lineup is due," said Reyes. pba. com