2 teams formed out of Gilas pool

MANILA, Philippines - Those who will not make the Gilas Pilipinas team to the SEABA Championship will remain in the Gilas pool with a chance to make either one of the two Philippine teams to be formed for the 2017 FIBA Asia Cup and the Southeast Asian Games.

Gilas coach Chot Reyes and his staff have to form two separate teams since the FIBA Asia tourney and the SEA Games are to be held on the same month. The Asian event is slated Aug. 10-20 in Beirut while the SEAG is set Aug. 19-31 in Malaysia.

“We’ll form and prepare two teams as we also want to defend our SEA Games title,” said Reyes.

“Coach Jong Uichico will handle the SEAG team. From the FIBA Asia Cup, I will try to catch up with them,” Reyes added.

A stronger squad will be assembled for the Asia Cup which is the initial eliminator in the new qualifying format for the 2019 FIBA World Cup.

The 2017 FIBA Asia Cup is the new continental championship, marking the merger of Australia and New Zealand with the old Asian competitors.

For the SEABA, Reyes has a 26-man training pool to be trimmed down to 15 before the PBA All-Star Week. Out are Arthur dela Cruz and Russell Escoto due to injuries.

June Mar Fajardo and Japeth Aguilar, spared  from early Gilas activities following their extended stints in the last Philippine Cup, finally joined the pool in practice Monday night.

Still being awaited is Andray Blatche whose Xinjiang Flying Tigers team made the Chinese league finals against the Guangdong Southern Tigers.

The other pool members are Jayson Castro, Calvin Abueva, Terrence Romeo, Raymond Almazan, Allein Maliksi, Norbert Torres, Jonathan Grey, Troy Rosario, LA Revilla, Bradwyn Guinto, Mac Belo, Jio Jalalon, Mike Tolomia, RR Pogoy, Matthew Wright, Kevin Ferrer, Carl Bryan Cruz, Alfonso Gotladera, Arnold Van Opstal and Almond Vosotros.

After the All-Star Week, the Gilas Final 15 will concentrate in their SEABA buildup and will no longer report to their mother ball clubs.

Those who will be cut will be called again in training for the FIBA Asia Cup and the SEAG.