Reyes bares Gilas 'final 12'

MANILA, Philippines – In the end, Gilas Pilipinas head coach Chot Reyes opted to go to war with his ‘original 12’.

Reyes bared on Thursday his final 12 for the FIBA Asia Men’s Basketball Championship with the latest addition to the national pool, Beau Belga, being the odd man out.

Reyes commended Belga for being the ‘ultimate professional’.

“Beau Belga: the ultimate professional. Tough to tell him,” Reyes posted on his Twitter account (@coachot) shortly after he emailed his final lineup to the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) for submission to the FIBA Asia Body. “In the end, he understood what’s best for the team.”

Belga thanked Reyes on his Twitter account (@BigBoyBelga30): “Salamat coach. Thank you din sa pagtitiwala.”

The burly Rain or Shine big man has already accepted his fate even before he joined the national pool.

“Mapasama lang ako sa national pool, malaking karangalan na para sa akin. Hindi ko naman talaga iniisip na mapapasama ako sa Final 12,” Belga said when he was informed that he was to join the national training pool after the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.

“Basta ako ibibigay ko ang lahat ko para matulungan sila lalo na yung mga younger big men sa team para maihanda sa banggaan sa FIBA Asia,” said the 6-foot-5 big man with an uncanny speed for his size and with a range farther than the rest of the other Gilas bigs.

The final Gilas lineup is composed of naturalized center Marcus Douthit, Junemar Fajardo, Ranidel de Ocampo, Japeth Aguilar, Marc Pingris, Jeff Chan, Gabe Norwood, Gary David, Larry Fonacier, LA Tenorio, Jayson Castro and team captain Jimmy Alapag.