Gilas final 12 known after Jones Cup

TAIPEI – Gilas Pilipinas will be ready to name its Final 12 for the FIBA Asia Championship after its stint in the 2015 William Jones Cup International Basketball Tournament here.

After the Jones Cup, the Gilas pool will have gone through a month-long training with a total of 11 games played, including three in a pocket tournament in Estonia.

“By the time we finish here, we want to have a very firm idea of who our 12 are,” said national coach Tab Baldwin.

The Jones Cup ends Sept. 6, two days before the deadline for submission of the 12-man lineup for the Asian meet that doubles as the regional qualifier for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Baldwin said they’ll be ready to name their Final 12 then, but didn’t rule out a last-minute change during the team managers’ meeting on the eve of competition in Changsha, China.

“Even when you name your 12, when there’s an injury you can replace him before the start of the tournament,” he pointed out.

Is he looking forward to have NBA Fil-Am player Jordan Clarkson at the last minute?

“We hope, we dream that someday he’ll play for Gilas,” he said, adding quickly he’s not the person to ask on Clarkson’s eligibility.

And he expressed his concern.

“If he comes in at the last moment, he’ll present some issues. There won’t be a smooth transition into a team if you come in late,” said Baldwin.