Gilas vies in Asia Cup sans Blatche?

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas sends to FIBA Asia before noon today the Gilas roster for the Asia Cup that is likely to be composed heavily of the recent SEABA campaigners and probably minus naturalized player Andray Blatche.

Gilas coach Chot Reyes, his staff and team manager Butch Antonio, met with SBP patron Manny V. Pangilinan upon their return from the Jones Cup in Taipei yesterday, to finalize the Gilas lineups for the two separate regional meets.

They will also discuss the contract of Blatche who’s being eyed to banner the Gilas roster in the Asia Cup in Lebanon from Aug. 8-20.

The Gilas team manager said Blatche is on vacation in the United States and is free from his commitment in the Chinese league during the Asian joust. But there’s report Blatche is reluctant to join Gilas in Lebanon due to security concerns.

Reyes is also to discuss if there’s any eligibility concern that Christian Standhardinger may face in the SEAG just as what Gilas experienced on Blatche’s case in the 2016 Incheon Asiad.

Gilas Pilipinas is finalizing its Asia Cup and the SEAG rosters after competing in two warm-up tournaments in the SEABA Championship at the Smart Araneta Coliseum and the Jones Cup in Taipei.

Reyes has actually named Standhardinger, Troy Rosario, Baser Amer, Almond Vosotros, Kevin Ferrer, Kiefer Ravena, Ray Ray Parks, Mike Tolomia, Von Pessumal, Carl Bryan Cruz, Raymar Jose and Kobe Paras for the SEAG team.

“It could be the lineup although we can make a change but we have to pay a corresponding penalty,” said Reyes.

For the Asia Cup, Gilas will likely have June Mar Fajardo, Japeth Aguilar, Calvin Abueva, Terrence Romeo, Raymond Almazan, Gabe Norwood, Jason Castro, Matthew Wright, RR Pogoy, Allein Maliksi and Jio Jalalon.He may have to choose between Maliksi and Jalalon.

Standhardinger is an option as a naturalized player in case Gilas encounters a problem in getting Blatche on board for the Lebanon meet.

But as much as possible, Gilas will avoid fielding a player in both the SEA Games and in the Asia Cup.

Coach Jong Uichico, tasked to handle Team Phl in the KL Games, expects their rivals to be tougher than the teams Gilas faced in the SEABA Championship at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last May.

“They didn’t send their best teams in SEABA. I think they’re more concerned with the SEA Games and they intend to bring their best there,” said Uichico, who scouted Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore prior to the SEABA joust.

Uichico said the Thais, for one, have Thai-American players – Tyler Lamb and Moses Morgan – and they’re likely to be fielded in the SEA Games. These players were not eligible to play as regular competitors in FIBA events including the SEABA.

The Philippines is bracketed with Thailand, Malaysia and Myanmar while Indonesia, Singapore, Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos are in the other group in the SEAG.