PASOK sina PBA rookies CJ Perez at Robert Bolick sa official 12-man roster ng Gilas Pilipinas na sasabak sa 2019 FIBA World Cup sa China sa susunod na linggo.
Sina Perez at Bolick, ang nos. 1 at 3 picks sa nakalipas na draft, ay sinamahan sa lineup nina June Mar Fajardo, Andray Blatche, Paul Lee, Japeth Aguilar, Roger Pogoy, Mark Barroca, Raymund Almazan, Gabe Norwood, Troy Rosario, at ng nagbabalik na si Kiefer Ravena.
Opisyal na inanunsiyo ni coach Yeng Guiao ang bumubuo sa national team noong Linggo ng gabi matapos ang ikalawang tune-up match ng Gilas laban sa bumibisitang Adelaide 36ers.
Nasibak sa koponan sina pool members Beau Belga, Poy Erram, at Matthew Wright. Sina Erram at Wright ay kapwa nagpapagaling ng injuries.
“Of course, ‘yung overall, ‘yung nakita natin, from the first day of Gilas practice to the last day, which is the decision time,” wika ni Guiao nang tanungin kung ano ang isinaalang-alang ng coaching staff sa pagpili sa final 12 players.
“Nag-factor din diyan ‘yung health ng mga player, nag-factor din diyan ‘yung cohesion that they provide with the rest of the team,” dagdag ng Gilas coach.
“Mahirap actually. Ilang araw na namin pinag- uusapan ‘yan. Of course there were also circumstances that played into the decision making.”
Ang lineup ay unang isinumite sa liderato ng Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP), sa pamumuno nina Chairman Emeritus Manny V. Pangilinan at President Al S. Panlilio para sa formal approval.
Sa isang statement kalaunan, tinawag ni Panlilio ang mga player bilang ‘12 gallant men who will fight for flag and country’ sa World Cup.
“They would not have gotten this opportunity if it were not for the sacrifices of all the players, coaches, and staff that helped along the way throughout the FIBA Asian Qualifiers,” ani Panlilio.
“This is your Gilas Pilipinas and they’ll do their best to represent the 100 million Filipinos and promote the Philippine brand of basketball on the world stage.”
Comments are closed.