3 players removed as Gilas trims down pool

Sports

GILAS Pilipinas has started trimming down its 18-man pool with the start of the FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers just a few days away.

From 18, the pool is down to 15 after injured players Kai Sotto and Calvin Oftana and naturalized big man Ange Kouame were removed from the initial lineup.

Gilas head coach Tim Cone announced the development after the team’s training at the Inspire Sports Academy in Laguna on Friday, Nov. 21

Three more players will be removed from the roster before the national team plays Guam on Nov. 28.

Still in the 15-man roster are Scottie Thompson, Japeth Aguilar, Jamie Malonzo, naturalized player Justine Brownlee, June Mar Fajardo, CJ Perez, Chris Newsome, Troy Rosario, RJ Abbarientos, Dwight Ramos, Quentin Millora-Brown, Juan Gomez De Liano, Carl Tamayo, AJ Edu, and Kevin Quiambao.

“We’re 15 basically and we got to cut to 12. We’re only taking 12 to Guam with us. But we’re 15 right now,” said Cone in a report by Spin.ph.

Cone said Sotto and Oftana would have made it to the Final 12 had they been healthy. The American mentor admitted that deciding who will stay and who will go would be difficult.

“These are going to be difficult decisions obviously. But the good news is these are all good guys and they know what they’re doing this for. And it doesn’t matter if they go in this window, they’ll still be a continuing part of the program,” Cone said.(CCM)