MANILA, Philippines – With just five days until the commencement of the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, Gilas Pilipinas has yet to finalize its roster. However, another issue has surfaced as four players have been deemed ineligible.
Calvin Abueva, Terrence Romeo, Mo Tautuaa, and Jason Perkins have all been denied by the Asian Games Committee to become part of Philippines’ Men’s Basketball lineup.
The reason being is, the said players were not part of the initial 60-player-list submitted by the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC).
RR Pogoy, who has been in the sickbay right after the FIBA World Cup is officially out too, though eligible.
This hurts not only the Gilas insiders but every Filipino basketball fan.
SEE ALSO: Gilas Pilipinas all out to reclaim Asian Games title
Calvin Abueva, Terrence Romeo, Mo Tautuaa, and Jason Perkins have all been denied by the Asian Games Committee to become part of Philippines’ Men’s Basketball lineup.
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| Abueva and Romeo’s Gilas-comeback was put on hold after being ruled out ineligible by Asian Games Committee. Photo Credit: FIBA |
The reason being is, the said players were not part of the initial 60-player-list submitted by the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC).
RR Pogoy, who has been in the sickbay right after the FIBA World Cup is officially out too, though eligible.
This hurts not only the Gilas insiders but every Filipino basketball fan.
SEE ALSO: Gilas Pilipinas all out to reclaim Asian Games title
As of writing, Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP), POC, and Gilas Pilipinas head coach Tim Cone are having a press conference; heralding the unfortunate news.
The contingency plan.
As a backup, Coach Cone called up PBA veterans Chris Ross, Marcio Lassiter, CJ Perez, Kevin Alas, and Arvin Tolentino to reinforce the depleted lineup.
How will these new players fare versus the newly-expelled cagers?
This might be a blessing in disguise for the national squad. Remember, Philippines is grouped with Jordan, and the Jordanians have a “Mamba 2.0” in the person of Rondae Hollis-Jefferson.
Not only Jordan is the Philippines' problem in the first round. Thailand too, is a concern as it has prolific scorer Tyler Lamb.
So what?
Hollis-Jefferson was unstoppable at the FIBA World Cup and so was Lamb at the ASEAN meets. The Philippines needs someone who can stop them and that person could be the “PBA Import Stopper”, Ross.
The team lost its hustle player, Abueva.
Not at all, Perez who is also called “Baby Beast” is now onboard. He’s not only an energy provider, but a scorer too.
How about Lassiter, Alas, and Tolentino. What would be their roles?
These guys are all legit three-point shooters and the way to win in international basketball games offensively is to live and breathe from beyond the arc.
The new potential lineup is obviously shorter with Tautuaa and Perkins exiling. However, it became a whole lot quicker and lethal with more shooters on the team.
This is how the revamped roster looks like:
After unveiling the bolstered lineup, it looks like Gilas Pilipinas is still right on track with a formidable core.
Let’s just cross our fingers that there will be no more fiasco as the Asiad gets closer and nearer.
All the best, Gilas Pilipinas! Laban, Puso!
— Joey Boy Capos, The Summit Express
The contingency plan.
As a backup, Coach Cone called up PBA veterans Chris Ross, Marcio Lassiter, CJ Perez, Kevin Alas, and Arvin Tolentino to reinforce the depleted lineup.
How will these new players fare versus the newly-expelled cagers?
This might be a blessing in disguise for the national squad. Remember, Philippines is grouped with Jordan, and the Jordanians have a “Mamba 2.0” in the person of Rondae Hollis-Jefferson.
Not only Jordan is the Philippines' problem in the first round. Thailand too, is a concern as it has prolific scorer Tyler Lamb.
So what?
Hollis-Jefferson was unstoppable at the FIBA World Cup and so was Lamb at the ASEAN meets. The Philippines needs someone who can stop them and that person could be the “PBA Import Stopper”, Ross.
The team lost its hustle player, Abueva.
Not at all, Perez who is also called “Baby Beast” is now onboard. He’s not only an energy provider, but a scorer too.
How about Lassiter, Alas, and Tolentino. What would be their roles?
These guys are all legit three-point shooters and the way to win in international basketball games offensively is to live and breathe from beyond the arc.
The new potential lineup is obviously shorter with Tautuaa and Perkins exiling. However, it became a whole lot quicker and lethal with more shooters on the team.
This is how the revamped roster looks like:
- June Mar Fajardo
- Japeth Aguilar
- Angelo Kouame
- Scottie Thompson
- Chris Newsome
- Stanley Pringle
- Calvin Oftana
- Justin Brownlee
- CJ Perez
- Chris Ross
- Marcio Lassiter
- Arvin Tolentino
- Kevin Alas (presumably 13th man / reserve player)
After unveiling the bolstered lineup, it looks like Gilas Pilipinas is still right on track with a formidable core.
Let’s just cross our fingers that there will be no more fiasco as the Asiad gets closer and nearer.
All the best, Gilas Pilipinas! Laban, Puso!
— Joey Boy Capos, The Summit Express
