Asian Games from September 23 to October 8 in Hangzhou, China. Present at the gathering are (from left) PBA chairman and SBP vice president Ricky Vargas, SBP president
Al Panlilio, PBA commissioner Willie Marcial, PBA vice chairman Bobby Rosales and Brgy. Ginebra San Miguel governor and SMC sports director Alfrancis Chua. The meeting
was hosted by SMC president and CEO Ramon S. Ang.
Naturalized Filipino cagers Justin Brownlee and Ange Kouame will lead the Philippine basketball team, along with seven other FIBA World Cup campaigners, to the Hangzhou 12th Asian Games.
The initial men’s basketball team lineup, along with 39 other sports disciplines, has already been submitted to the Hangzhou Asian Games organizers, according to Philippine Olympic Committee president Bambol Tolentino.
“The deadline for the Entry by Names [EBN] was last July 25 and whatever list a national Olympic committee submitted is deemed official,” Tolentino said, although changes can still be made through an appeal.
The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas list had World Cup veterans Kiefer Ravena, Scottie Thompson, Roger Pogoy, June Mar Fajardo, JR Perez, Japeth Aguilar, and Jamie Malonzo, plus and Chot Reyes, and Tim Cone as head coach and assistant coach, respectively.
Joining them are Chris Newsome, Calvon Oftana, and Brandon Rosser.
It was the list submitted by the SBP to the POC, even before the FIBA World Cup and before Reyes’ announcement that he would “step aside” as Gilas Pilipinas coach.
Unlike in the FIBA-sanctioned tournaments, the Asian Games requires only a valid passport, making Brownlee and Kouame eligible as both are Philippine passport holders.
Philippine Basketball Association commissioner Willie Marcial on Monday night said they are meeting with SBP officials as soon as possible to finalize the lineup. The POC said the final roster may be announced by the PBA and SBP on Thursday.
“Kung maarin nga ngayong gabi na kami mag-meeting. The PBA remains committed in supporting the Philippine team to Asian Games, kung anong kailangan nila, basta kaya ng PBA, ibibigay namin,” assured Marcial.
He said the PBA players will be loaned by their respective teams to the Philippine squad as the league has already adjusted its next PBA season to start on Oct. 15.
The Asian Games is slated from Sept. 23 to Oct. 8.
Meanwhile, World Cup campaigners like Dwight Ramos, Kiever Ravena, and AJ Edu will be going to Japan to play for their respective Japan B.League teams.
Kai Sotto is also out although he might not be headed to Japan B.League’s Hiroshima team as originally planned.
The center’s name was not included in the Hiroshima Dragonflies’ lineup posted on its website even as he already signed an extension with the team for the forthcoming 2023–2024 Japan B League season.
There were rumors that he might be playing in the NBA G League, although his camp has not confirmed anything about his next plan.
Rhenz Abando, for his part, said it’s up to his Anyang KGC team of the Korean Basketball League if he will be allowed to play for Gilas in Asiad.