Estonia matches to step up Gilas buildup

MANILA, Philippines - Gilas Pilipinas picks up the pace in its preparations for the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship set Sept. 23-Oct. 3 in Changsha, China as it left for Estonia for a series of matches against Iceland, the Netherlands and the home team starting Thursday.

In the short list of Team Phl are Jayson Castro, Ranidel de Ocampo, Matt Ganuelas-Rosser, Asi Taulava, Terrence Romeo, Aldrech Ramos, Gary David, JC Intal, Gabe Norwood, Sonny Thoss, Dondon Hontiveros, Calvin Abueva, Jimmy Alapag, Troy Rosario, naturalized player Andray Blatche and practice player Moala Tautuaa.

Due to time and booking constraints, the group was divided into two, taking two different flights to the Baltic Republic of Estonia. Coach Tab Baldwin and assistant coach Alex Compton were with Alapag, Thoss, Rosser, Blatche, Norwood and Tautuaa in a KLM flight at 7:45 p.m. last night. Team manager Butch Antonio and players Intal, Romeo, Rosario, Abueva, Hontiveros, De Ocampo, David, Taulava, Castro and Ramos were with the group taking Turkish Airline a little later at 8:50 p.m.

From the roster will come the Last 12 who will carry the national tri-colors in the Asian meet serving as the regional qualifier for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Junemar Fajardo, Marc Pingris, LA Tenorio, Jeff Chan and Paul Lee are out of the team.

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Manny V. Pangilinan said it was sad the five players have decided to forgo their stint with the national team and at the same time thanked the teams that loaned players to the Gilas five.

“Sad day for Phil basketball. But thank you to the teams which helped the national cause. Laban Pilipinas. Puso,” Pangilinan posted on his Twitter account Saturday.

Taulava and Alapag, the team’s senior players, said they’re ready to hold the fort with the players included in the roster.

The Gilas pool will be back in Manila on Aug. 25 and, after a brief layover, leaves for Taipei on Aug. 27 for the Jones Cup.