WITHOUT much surprise, National team coach Tab Baldwin named the 14-man line-up of Smart Gilas Pilipinas that will push through with training in Europe.
There weren’t any shocking picks in Gilas’ final 14 as national team mainstays were expectedly included, forming a tall, fast and versatile team, which Baldwin hopes to whip up to fighting form in time for the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
The 14-man Gilas roster will be spearheaded by naturalized import Andray Blatche, fiery guards Jayson Castro, Terrence Romeo, Jeff Chan, LA Tenorio, Ryan Reyes, Bobby Ray Parks, wingmen Gabe Norwood, Calvin Abueva, Ranidel De Ocampo, Troy Rosario and big men Marc Pingris, Japeth Aguilar and two-time Philippine Basketball Association Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo.
Most of the team’s composition moving forward are from last year’s FIBA Asia Championship squad.
From those 14 players, the final 12 that will represent the team in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament will be selected.
These 14 cagers will now move forward and train in Greece and Italy as Gilas’ preparation for the FIBA OQT, which is slated from July 5 to 10 here in Manila, hits its homestretch. It will be a three-week camp for the team in Europe.
“We are getting ready to put on the uniforms. This is a time of pride, a time of competition for the players,” said Baldwin, adding that the team in its early stages of preparation, being prepared mentally for what’s ahead.
Gunner Marcio Lassiter, who many believes as a good fit for the team due to his accurate outside sniping, was cut as he was unable to return to training after suffering a sickness (bronchopneumonia) for almost two weeks now.
Aside from Lassiter, the likes of Kiefer Ravena, Moala Tautuaa and the other cadets will no longer go with the team.
Meanwhile, Smart Gilas showed that it is slowly hitting its peak form as it survived a tough test from Iran and took an 81-70 victory in their official tune-up game Wednesday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The nationals came through for most part and in the clutch to show that they are more than prepared to face hostilities from oppositions.
Blatche showed that he is indeed in fighting form, top-scoring for the Filipinos with 20 points and 11 rebounds, on top of four steals, while getting plenty of support from his teammates as Reyes, Aguilar and Romeo added 12 points each.