MANILA – The Philippine men’s basketball team was dealt with a huge blow ahead of the 30th Southeast Asian Games with Roger Pogoy forced to sit out the competition due to an injury.
Gilas Pilipinas head coach Tim Cone said the TNT KaTropa gunner has been ruled out for the biennial tournament after being diagnosed with a disc bulge in his lumbosacral joint, which needs a couple of weeks to heal.
“It’s a big blow because he is one of our best shooters and two-way players,” said Cone. “He will be difficult to replace. At this point, we are exploring various scenarios before we settle on our response to RR’s exclusion.”
Cone shared he is still talking over with his coaching staff on who to tap to replace Pogoy from the 12-man roster before the start of the SEA Games men’s basketball competition on Dec. 4.
He may choose from among the three who were earlier cut, namely Greg Slaughter, Scottie Thompson and Arthur dela Cruz.
Reactivating Jayson Castro, who has just come back from injury, is also said to be considered as well.
Pogoy, who normed 20.27 points on a hot 47 percent shooting for the KaTropa in the PBA Governors’ Cup, was looking to suit up for the national team again after competing in the FIBA Basketball World Cup in China in September.
“The prognosis is he will need a couple of weeks before he can return to the court. That unfortunately will eliminate him from the Gilas lineup,” said Cone./PN
