By REYNALD MAGALLON
Gilas Pilipinas is set to be bannered by new faces on the court and in the sidelines in the men’s basketball event in the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China later this month.
The Philippine Olympic Committee released the names of players that have been submitted to the Hangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee although the list will still be subject to changes depending on the new head coach who will take over the team following the resignation of Chot Reyes at the end of the Nationals’ campaign in the World Cup.
Leading the way in the list are World Cup team members Kiefer Ravena, Scottie Thompson, Roger Pogoy, June Mar Fajardo, JR Perez, Japeth Aguilar and Jamie Malonzo.
Also included are pool members Chris Newsome, Calvin Oftana, and naturalized players Justin Brownlee and Ange Kouame along with NLEX big man Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser.
According to POC President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino both Brownlee and Kouame are eligible to play in the continental tiff as the organizing committee only requires a passport to join the national team.
Tolentino added that the list is deemed final but changes can be made pending the approval of the organizing committee following an appeal from the POC.
“The deadline for the Entry by Names [EBN]was last July 25 and whatever list a national Olympic committee submitted is deemed official,” Tolentino said.
Reyes, who announced his resignation after Gilas’ 96-75 victory over China in its final game, was still listed as the team’s head coach along with his lead deputy Tim Cone.
The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas and the PBA are expected to announce the new head coach of Gilas, at least for the Asian Games, as well as the final roster on Thursday, Sept. 7.
Gilas is drawn with Jordan, Bahrain and Thailand in the Group C of the preliminaries with its first game set on Sept. 26 against the Bahrainis.
