Gilas is getting ready
The Philippine men’s basketball team’s training intensity has increased significantly, with two days scheduled ahead of the games in the final window of the Fiba Basketball World Cup Asian qualifiers.
The qualifiers will determine the composition of the final squad for Gilas Pilipinas, which has been assigned a spot in the main event as the host. On Friday, the Philippines face Lebanon; on Monday, they face Jordan.
Training twice a day begins on Tuesday.
The Filipinos are third in Group E with a 5-3 win-loss record, trailing Lebanon (7-1) and New Zealand (6-2).
Tamayo is out
CARL Tamayo has skipped his second consecutive Fiba qualifying window.
Due to an ankle injury, the then-University of the Philippines forward was unable to join the Philippine men’s basketball team during the November window.
Tamayo, who is now under contract with the Ryukyu Golden Kings in the Japan B. League, has declined to play for Gilas in the sixth and final qualifying window.
Kai Sotto has also signed with the B.League’s Hiroshima Dragonflies.
Ochuefu works out with Gilas
Chot Reyes, a TNT consultant, chose Tropang Giga’s Daniel Ochefu as a practice player for the undermanned Gilas Pilipinas.
With Gilas’ frontcourt decimated by forward Japeth Aguilar’s injury and the withdrawal of younger bigs, Reyes invited Ochefu to practice.
Ochefu will take part in the East Asia Super League Champions Week for TNT.
On Monday night, Ray Parks, brothers Kiefer and Thirdy Ravena, Jordan Heading, Dwight Ramos, Kevin Quiambao, Mason Amos, Jerom Lastimosa, and Schonny Winston trained alongside Justin Brownlee, Scottie Thompson, CJ Perez, Calvin Oftana, Arvin Tolentino, Chris Newsome, and Raymond Almazan.
All-Star lineups in the PBA
SCOTTIE THOMPSON selected his Ginebra teammate first in the PBA All-Star draft, with Japeth Aguilar coming in second.
Despite finishing second in the All-Star poll, Team Scottie received the first pick after winning the coin toss.
In a separate coin toss, Team Japeth won the right to choose the coach, and they chose Ginebra’s mentor Tim Cone. On March 12, Yeng Guiao will coach team Scottie in Passi, Iloilo.
CJ Perez of San Miguel, Magnolia’s Calvin Abueva, NorthPort’s Robert Bolick and Arvin Tolentino, Kevin Alas of NLEX, TNT’s Jayson Castro, Ginebra’s Stanley Pringle, San Miguel’s Marcio Lassiter, Magnolia’s Mark Barroca, and Rain or Shine’s James Yap was chosen for Team Scottie.
Team Japeth included Ginebra’s Jamie Malonzo, Meralco’s Chris Newsome, TNT’s Roger Pogoy, Ginebra’s LA Tenorio, TNT’s Mikey Williams, Magnolia’s Paul Lee, Ginebra’s Jeremiah Gray, Rain or Shine’s Gian Mamuyac, Ginebra’s Nards Pinto, and San Miguel’s Terrence Romeo.