Gilas gears up for FIBA window

MANILA, Philippines, November 9 ------ Gilas plans to open training camp on Nov. 18 and head coach Tim Cone said everyone in the 15-man pool has a shot at making the final 12 roster for the FIBA World Cup Asia qualifying window against Guam at the Calvo Fieldhouse on Nov. 28 and the Blue Eagle Gym on Dec. 1.

Cone had previously announced a 16-man pool, but Kai Sotto remains unavailable while recovering from ACL surgery. The other players are Japeth Aguilar, RJ Abarrientos, Justin Brownlee, AJ Edu, June Mar Fajardo, Ange Kouame, Jamie Malonzo, Quentin Millora-Brown, Chris Newsome, Calvin Oftana, CJ Perez, Kevin Quiambao, Dwight Ramos, Carl Tamayo and Scottie Thompson.

Assistant coach Richard del Rosario said at least four practice days will be at Inspire and the rest in Manila, including at the Blue Eagle Gym before the team leaves for Guam on Nov. 25. The PBA will take a break from Nov. 17 to Dec. 4 to allow the Gilas players to focus on the window. The Japanese B-League, where Ramos and Edu play, will recess from Nov. 21 to Dec. 3 while the Korean Basketball League, where Quiambao and Tamayo play, will call a ceasefire from Nov. 17 to Dec. 4.

Ramos and Edu are booked to play for their teams in the B-League on Nov. 16 so they will start Gilas camp on time. Tamayo has a KBL game on Nov. 16 and can also make it when camp begins. Quiambao, however, has a game with the Goyang Sono Skygunners on Nov. 20 and will report to camp late. Malonzo was released by Kyoto in the B-League last Oct. 17 after averaging 1.2 points and 6.6 minutes in five games and will be available for Gilas.

Source: philstar.com