New Gilas PH vows to keep dream alive

KEEPING the Olympic dream alive will be the continuing mission of Gilas Pilipinas in the next four years.

Coach Chot Reyes said this after he presented a 21-man roster which  will make up the national pool expected to train and prepare for the Olympic qualifying meets starting next year.

“We don’t know if we will make it to the Olympics. But that is our burning dream,” said Reyes.

Reyes, who now heads television network TV5, said this during a presentation Monday night at the Shangrila Hotel in Makati.

He talked about the national squad just as former Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Manny Pangilinan forged a partnership with a roasted chicken retail business group to support the national team’s campaign for the next four years.

This means that roasted chicken retail business group, Chooks to Go, will be around to support Gilas’ campaign for the next four years.

This was after Bounty Agro Ventures, Inc. president Ronald Mascarinas signed a partnership with Pangilinan, the SBP, headed by its president Al Panlilio and national coach Chot Reyes.  

The national pool was supposed to be a 24-men lineup, but three  have yet to be named to the list.

Most of the players are from teams in the Philippine Basketball Association, including some members of the first batch of Gilas Pilipinas, who have been around since 2007.

Dondon Hontiveros, Ranidel De Ocampo and Sonny Thoss  were members of the 2007 national team that was christened for the first time as Team Gilas.

University of the Philippines cagers Paul Desiderio and Jett Manuel were also around, along with Almond Vosotros, Matthew Wright, Jonathan Gray, Alfonso Gotladera, Von Pessumal, Ed Daquioag, Russell Escoto, RR Pogoy, Kevin Ferrer, Gryan Cruz, Jio Jalalon, Mike Tolomia, Mac Belo, JC Intal and Terrence Romeo. 

The national pool is supposed to be a 24-men lineup, but the last three have yet to be named to the list.

Reyes commended the players for their sacrifice and the time that they dedicated to be part of the team.

“These players have been playing for 10 to 11 months in a year for the PBA. On their free time, they sacrifice their time for career and family to be in the national team,” stated Reyes.  

Reyes said they have yet to assemble the team for practice. But, most of them have games in the ongoing PBA Philippine Cup.

Pangilinan said the support is enough to defray the expenses of Gilas in its journey in the next four years. The SEABA tournament is set on March 2017.

“We need to win that because the next international event in the FIBA Asia Championship,” said Pangilinan.