By REYNALD MAGALLON
The good thing about having a pool brimming with talent is having capable replacements when one player goes down with an injury.
But having many possible replacements is also the difficult thing about having a pool.
While Gilas Pilipinas head coach Tim Cone is teeming with talent with his 18-man pool, he will have the inevitable and difficult task of cutting the team down to the final 12 that will see action in its away game against Guam on Nov. 28.
The Nationals are now left with 15 players fighting for the 12 roster spots with Ange Kouame, Kai Sotto and Calvin Oftana already ruled out for the first window of the 2027 FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers.
Kouame, a naturalized player, won’t be suiting up with Justin Brownlee taking his spot while both Sotto and Oftana are nursing injuries.
“We’re 15 basically and we got to cut to 12. We’re only taking 12 to Guam with us. But we’re 15 right now,” said Cone.
“These are going to be difficult decisions obviously. But the good news is these are all good guys and they know what they’re doing this for. And it doesn’t matter if they go in this window, they’ll still be a continuing part of the program,” he added.
Cone said the team will announce its final 12 before departing for Guam and a huge part of that decision will come after Gilas’ closed door training at the Inspire Sports Academy.
“We will announce (final 12) towards the end of the week. You know who the obvious shoo-ins are, I don’t even need to tell you that,” he added.
June Mar Fajardo, CJ Perez, Scottie Thompson, Chris Newsome, Dwight Ramos, Jamie Malonzo, Kevin Quiambao, AJ Edu, and Carl Tamayo are part of the original 12 while Japeth Aguilar, Troy Rosario and RJ Abarrientos are some of the reserves still on the pool.
Recent additions Quentin Millora-Brown and Juan Gomez de Liano are the latest additions both vying for the spots in the final roster.
