By REYNALD MAGALLON
The final pieces of the puzzle have finally been completed and it’s now in the hands of Gilas Pilipinas head coach Chot Reyes to make the most of the remaining two weeks before the start of the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
Reyes shared through his Instagram story that NBA star Jordan Clarkson and 7-foot-3 big man Kai Sotto – two of the team’s potent weapons – have finally joined Gilas practice behind closed doors at the PhilSports Arena on Wednesday, Aug. 9.
It was the first time the two participated in the Gilas buildup with Clarkson’s reunion with the team being pushed back by personal matters and his NBA contract negotiations last month.
Sotto, on the other hand, has seen action in the NBA Summer League during the start of Gilas preparations. He has been in the country for two weeks now but a nagging back injury has prevented him from formally joining Gilas practice.
Still, it was a welcome sight for Reyes who can finally utilize the full extent of the remaining 17-man pool of Gilas.
The two were seen joining the shooting drills along with the rest of the team who immediately plunged back to training less than a day after returning to the country from a pocket tournament in China.
World Cup veterans June Mar Fajardo and Japeth Aguilar led the other attendees along with CJ Perez, Dwight Ramos, Ray Park Jr, Chris Newsome and Rhenz Abando.
AJ Edu, the biggest revelation for Gilas in the pocket tournament where it recorded a 3-1 slate, was also in attendance along with Kiefer and Thirdy Ravena, Jamie Malonzo, Calvin Oftana and RR Pogoy.
Gilas will have a full week of training before it enters the final stretch of its preparations when it faces up against fellow World Cup teams Montenegro and Mexico here in the country just days before the Filipinos’ first game against Dominican Republic on Aug. 25.
Aside from the Dominican Republic, Gilas is also grouped with Italy and Angola where the top two teams at the end of the first round will advance to the second phase of the tournament. The Nationals are aiming to become the top Asian finisher in the tournament to punch a ticket to the 2024 Paris Olympics.
