Gilas Pilipinas departed for China on Tuesday morning without Kai Sotto as the team embarks on its final preparation for the FIBA World Cup slated Aug. 25 to Sept. 10 in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia.
The Philippine basketball team will play other World Cup-bound teams from Senegal and Iran in a series of games at the 2023 Heyuan WUS International Basketball Tournament in China.
Reyes said Utah Jazz star Jordan Clarkson is in constant touch with Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas and will just go straight to the Philippines for the world’s top cage tournament.
The Gilas mentor said “all the plans are fluid” even as Sotto also failed to join the team in the China event and has yet clear the air as to when he will finally join the team’s practice.
Sotto’s camp said he is still undergoing rehab for his back injury.
Scottie Thompson and Justin Brownlee are also recuperating from injuries, while Ange Kouame will join coach Yeng Guiao’s Rain or Shine team seeing action in the William Jones Cup in Taipei.
The 14-man team for China includes June Mar Fajardo, Japeth Aguilar, AJ Edu, Rhenz Abando, Jamie Malonzo, Chris Newsome, Calvin Oftana, Bobby Ray Parks Jr., CJ Perez, Roger Pogoy, Dwight Ramos, Kiefer Ravena, Thirdy Ravena, and Poy Erram
In the mini-tournament in China, Gilas takes on Senegal on August 5 and 6 at Heyuan Sports Gymnasium then battles Iran on Aug. 7 at the Xiaoqing Sports Center.
The Reyes-mentored Gilas is getting ready for the World Cup, where it is bracketed in Group A with Dominican Republic, Angola, and Italy.
Iran will play in Indonesia as part of Group G with Spain, Brazil, and Cote D’Ivoire.