MANILA – Jamie Malonzo and Ariel John Edu are both ruled out for the Gilas Pilipinas national men’s basketball team that will compete in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament next month in Latvia.
Malonzo is still recovering from a calf injury during Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings’ game against NorthPort Batang Pier in the just-concluded PBA Philippine Cup.
Edu, on the other hand, decided to sit out the upcoming Gilas campaign due to lingering pain in his knee, which he sustained while playing for Toyama Grouses in Japan B.League.
Tapped to replace Malonzo and Edu in the Tim Cone-mentored national men’s basketball team are veteran center Japeth Aguilar and collegiate star Mason Amos.
Joining Aguilar are his fellow PBA cagers Chris Newsome, Calvin Oftana, June Mar Fajardo, Jaymar Perez, Earl Scottie Thompson, and naturalized player Justin Brownlee.
Amos, on the other hand, is with fellow UAAP player Kevin Quiambao and overseas-based Filipino cagers namely Carl Tamayo, Dwight Ramos, and Kai Sotto.
Gilas Pilipinas began their preparation for the 2024 Paris Olympics qualifier with training camp on Friday at the Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba City, Laguna.
The national men’s basketball is also scheduled to play a tune-up game against The Asian Tournament’s Taiwan Mustangs on Monday at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.
Gilas Pilipinas will travel to Latvia next month to face No. 8-ranked Latvia on July 3 and No. 23-ranked Georgia on July 4 for a chance to earn a slot in the 2024 Paris Olympics./PN
