MANILA – Gilas Pilipinas is pushing through with its participation in the 19th Asian Games slated later this week in Hangzhou, China despite challenges in putting up a 12-man roster.
According to PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial, the Tim Cone-mentored Gilas crew can easily pull out from the competition but they opted to continue fighting with a rag tag team.
“Pwede naman kaming umayaw eh, pero sila ‘hindi, laban tayo,’” Marcial said in a press conference on Tuesday afternoon. “Ang hiling ko lang, suportahan niyo ang Gilas, at kailangan natin magdasal.”
Gilas’ roster issue lies on the Asian Games eligibility of Cone’s four additional players in Calvin Abueva, Jason Perkins, Terrence Romeo, and Moala Tautuaa.
The four could be blocked by the Hangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee (HAGOC) as their names were not included in the 60-player Gilas provisional roster that was submitted by the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC).
As a preparation for possible denial, Cone has invited San Miguel Beermen’s Jaymar Perez and Chris Ross, NLEX Road Warriors’ Kevin Alas and NorthPort Batang Pier’s Arvin Tolentino to join the team.
“Just to clarify, we have yet to receive official word from HAGOC regarding our lineup appeal but we just made addition as insurance,” the interim national team coach said.
Additionally, Beermen’s gunner Marcio Lassiter was also called up as a replacement to Roger Pogoy, who has begged off from the Asian Games due to medical reasons.
The rest of Cone’s Gilas include naturalized players Justin Brownlee and Angelo Kouame and local players June Mar Fajardo, Calvin Oftana, Chris Newsome, Japeth Aguilar, and Earl Scottie Thompson.
Gilas Pilipinas will face Bahrain on the 26th of September, Thailand on the 28th, and Jordan on the 30th, with the top two teams in Group C advancing to the knockout playoffs./PN
