Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes has announced the 17 players who will comprise the 2014 national pool for the FIBA World Cup in Spain and most probably, the Asian Games as well.
Included in the pool are the 12
players who were part of the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship line-up, namely
Jimmy Alapag, LA Tenorio, Jayson Castro, Larry Fonacier, Jeff Chan,
Gabe Norwood, Gary David, Ranidel Ocampo, Marc Pingris, Japeth Aguilar,
Junemar Fajardo and naturalized player Marcus Douthit.
Big men Beau Belga of Rain or
Shine and Greg Slaughter of Barangay Ginebra, the last two players cut
before the August tournament, were also included.
New names joining the pool
include San Miguel swingman Marcio Lassiter, Meralco forward Jared
Dillinger and Rain or Shine point guard Paul Lee. Lassiter was a member
of the original Gilas team that placed fourth in the 2011 FIBA Asia
Championship, while Dillinger saw action for Gilas in the 2012 FIBA Asia
Cup before a car accident last year ruled him out for the FIBA Asia
joust.
Should his naturalization be
approved by Congress, Andray Blatche of the Brooklyn Nets will be the
18th member of the pool and will challenge Douthit for the lone slot
reserved for a naturalized player.
“I would like to acknowledge the
team owners and the PBA Board of Governors for allowing me to name the
players in the pool. I would like to thank the PBA for its continued
partnership to the national team effort,” the national team head coach
said.
The team will start its practice this Monday, March 3 8pm
at the Philsports Arena and will continue to hold once-a-week practices
until such time that the team can hold regular practices.
Gilas Pilipinas bagged the silver medal and a
spot in the FIBA World Cup where it will play in Seville for the
Preliminary Rounds. This will be the first time after 40 years that the
country will be playing in the world basketball stage.
Reyes initially revealed the list via Twitter on Friday afternoon.
