Clare Castro has yet to report for duty for the Gilas Pilipinas Women team that will see action in the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup in Sydney.
Gilas coach Patrick Aquino told Daily Tribune that the 6-foot-5 center has yet to show up for training as she is still dealing with some personal problem in the province.
The former Far Eastern University standout who has been with the Gilas program since 2015, in fact, was not around when Aquino presided over a workout at the Aero Center Basketball Court in Pasay City on Wednesday.
“She went to the province and I think she’s dealing with a family problem,” Aquino said, adding that Castro has yet to show up for the past week.
“I still have yet to get a word from her whether she’s going to play or not.”
With Castro not around, Gilas will have to endure a gaping hole at the middle with 6-foot-5 Jack Animam serving as the lone post threat.
Animam, who helped Gilas clinch the silver medal in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games last month, is coming off a fruitful stint for Toulouse Métropole Basket and Union Sportive Ouvrière Mondeville in the French League.
With that, Aquino has to make some adjustments by switching Afril Bernardino to the power forward spot together with Mikka Cacho.
Louna Ozar, a former standout from the under-18 division, has also been converted to play small forward from her previous big guard position.
“Clare is going to be a big factor for us. She’s the tallest in the team,” said Aquino, whose wards are bracketed with Australia, Chinese Taipei and Japan in the prestigious continental event that starts on 26 June.
“We need her, especially in the FIBA Asia where you’ll be competing against bigger, taller players.”
