CHOT GETS HIS WISH
THIS IS WHAT I’VE BEEN TRYING TO EXPLAIN TO PEOPLE ALL THIS TIME.
Gilas Pilipinas head coach Chot Reyes heaved a sigh of relief yesterday when the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) threw its all-out support to the national team’s bold bid in the FIBA Wold Cup Qualifiers next month. Under fire for a spate of miserable showings overseas lately, Reyes swears the development will put them one step closer on their goal of assembling the strongest possible roster for the World Cup next year.
The upcoming qualifiers are set 25 to 29 August and the PBA will allow Gilas Pilipinas to recruit top players from non-finalist teams in the Philippine Cup.
“Of course (we are) thankful to the PBA. We’ve been in constant communication with commissioner Willie Marcial and the PBA board,” Reyes told Daily Tribune.
“This is what I’ve been trying to explain to people all this time. To be patient and wait for the time when all players will be available and the team will have ample time to practice.”
So far, only Utah Jazz star Jordan Clarkson is the only sure player to join the pool when it begins training on 15 August.
But Reyes now has a lot more options to look from. Reyes previously expressed his interest in taking a look at reigning Most Valuable Player Scottie Thompson of Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, Calvin Oftana of NLEX and Jaime Malonzo of NorthPort.
Other reports also had it that a few more PBA stars like Chris Newsome of Meralco, Maverick Ahanmisi of Converge and former Terrafirma big man Roosevelt Adams were also cleared by FIBA to play as local cagers.
Gilas could also afford to tap the services of holdovers Dwight Ramos, Kiefer and Thirdy Ravena and cadets SJ Belangel, Carl Tamayo, RJ Abarrientos, Kevin Quiambao and Will Navarro.