Kelly back in Gilas pool

MANILA, Philippines — Gilas head coach Chot Reyes beat the FIBA deadline to make changes in the 24-man pool for the coming World Cup Asia qualifying window and replaced Ange Kouame with Kelly Williams the other day. Unlike Kouame who is listed as a naturalized player, Williams is eligible to play as a local. Barangay Ginebra import Justin Brownlee will be Gilas’ naturalized player for the games against Lebanon on Feb. 24 and Jordan on Feb. 27, both at the Philippine Arena.

SBP deputy executive director and Gilas team manager Butch Antonio confirmed the switch yesterday, noting that Kouame is down with a knee injury. Williams, 41, has played in two FIBA Asia Cups and one Asian Games. He saw action for Gilas in the qualifying window at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in February last year, compiling four points and four rebounds against India and one point and four rebounds against New Zealand. Asked if Williams was surprised that he was inserted in the pool, Reyes said, “not really ... I’ve always told him he’s on call.”

It’s not likely that Japeth Aguilar and Kai Sotto will be available for the two games this month. Aguilar suffered a knee injury during Ginebra’s game against NLEX last Feb. 8 and will be sidelined at least three weeks, compromising his appearance in the coming window. Sotto arrived in Manila last week from Australia where he played in the National Basketball League and will join the Japanese B-League team Hiroshima. Talks are ongoing between SBP and Sotto’s management group for the 7-3 center to play against Lebanon and Jordan but the probability is he’s not suiting up. Sotto recently signed a two-month contract with Hiroshima. The scuttlebutt is he will receive $100,000 for March and another $100,000 for April. If Hiroshima makes it to the B-League playoffs, the contract will be renegotiated for Sotto to play beyond April. Sotto is scheduled to report for specialized training in the US in May, attend NBA team mini-camps for tryouts in June and play in the NBA Summer League in July.

Antonio said starting today, the Meralco Gym will be open 8 p.m.-10 p.m. everyday for Gilas players to do individual workouts. The next team practice is set tomorrow with most of the overseas players from the B-League expected to attend. Kiefer Ravena was the first of the B-League players to report for practice last Monday. Antonio said he was advised that Dwight Ramos flew in the other night. “They’re starting to come in,” said Antonio. “Jordan (Heading) is arriving today. We’re doing a team practice tomorrow and Saturday then Monday. We’re working around the PBA schedule. Last Monday, we had 11 players at practice including Kevin (Quiambao) and Jerom (Lastimosa) who missed last practice as they were playing in Dubai.”