Fajardo, Castro, Romeo top Gilas picks
Reigning three- time PBA MVP awardee June Mar Fajardo, backto-back FIBA Asia best point guard winner Jason Castro and reigning PBA scoring champ Terrence Romeo are tipped to lead a cast of 12 PBA veterans to be named today as additions to the new Gilas Pilipinas training pool for the coming major FIBA tourneys.
Alaska Milk scrappy forward Calvin Abueva, Barangay Ginebra athletic center/forward Japeth Aguilar and Rain or Shine versatile player Gabe Norwood could also be on top of the list to be announced by the SBP officials before the Ginebra-Phoenix Fuel match tonight at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.
SBP president Al Panlilio, chairman Sen. Sonny Angara and vice chairman Robbie Puno are expected to grace the affair where the 24-man Gilas training pool under returning Gilas coach Chot Reyes will finally be known.
The 12 PBA veterans will be added to the initial Gilas roster composed of Mac Belo, Matthew Wright, Ed Daquiaog, Mike Tolomia, Roger Pogoy, Carl Bryan Cruz, Kevin Ferrer, Russel Escoto, Jio Jalalon, Arnold Van Opstal, Von Pessumal and Al Gotladera.
The new additions were culled one each from the 12 PBA ball clubs.
Reyes’ other choices could be Paul Lee from the Star Hotshots, JC Intal from Phoenix Petroleum, Jonathan Grey from Meralco, Bradwyn Guinto from NLEX, Alex Mallari from Mahindra and Arthur dela Cruz from Blackwater.
Fajardo, Castro, Romeo, Abueva, Aguilar, Norwood, Lee and Intal are eight players with previous Gilas stints. Those who have played in the Philippine team under Reyes are Fajardo, Castro, Aguilar, Norwood and Lee.
The new Gilas pool will be trained for the coming SEABA Championship which is the qualifier among Southeast Asian teams for the 2017 FIBA Asia Cup in Beirut on Aug. 17-27.
The FIBA Asia Cup is now the flagship event in the region, an important event kicking off qualifiers in the Asia/Oceania for the 2019 World Championship in China and the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
The 2017 FIBA Asia Cup is the first tourney featuring the merger of Australia and New Zealand with old Asian powers China, Iran, the Philippines, Korea, Lebanon, Korea and others.
Gilas Pilipinas slugs it out with Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and the other SEABA teams for one slot in the 16-team Asia Cup.
The top 14 from the Asia Cup plus two teams to be determined by FIBA Asia will then compete in Division A of FIBA’s new competition system.
Meanwhile, the FIBA Asia Cup 2017 for Women is set July 23-29 in Bengaluru, India.
Perlas Pilipinas is already seeded in Division A in women’s play with China, South Korea, Chinese Taipei, North Korea plus new additions Australia and New Zealand.