The Philippine Olympic Committee is pushing and praying hard, hoping that organizers will grant their request for last-minute change of roster in the men’s basketball event of the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou starting 26 September.
POC president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino said they have already done everything they can so it’s now up to the Hangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee to decide if they will allow Gilas Pilipinas to grant their appeal for last-minute change in its roster.
With bulk of its players flying back to Japan to resume their professional careers abroad and Chot Reyes stepping down as head coach following a fruitless campaign in the FIBA Basketball World Cup, Gilas Pilipinas launched an overhaul in a bid to return to the medal podium of this prestigious quadrennial event.
The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas sought the help of the San Miguel Corporation and Philippine Basketball Association to form a competitive team with Tim Cone serving as head coach.
Cone, the most successful mentor in PBA history, enlisted PBA players like Terrence Romeo, Calvin Abueva, Moala Tautuaa and Jayson Perkins while Stanley Pringle will serve as reserve player in the new Gilas squad.
Naturalized players Justin Brownlee and Ange Kouame were also part of the squad while Chris Newsome, June Mar Fajardo, Calvin Oftana, Scottie Thompson, Japeth Aguilar, CJ Perez and Roger Pogoy.
But according to Asian Games organizers, changes in the final roster past the 25 July deadline of Entry by Names will only be accommodated if an athlete is injured. The request for late substitution will be known in the final delegation registration meeting on 17 September.
“We are following up on that. After the World Cup, half of the roster isn’t allowed to play since they will be playing in their commercial league in Japan,” said Tolentino, referring to Kiefer Ravena, Dwight Ramos, AJ Edu, Thirdy Ravena, Ray Parks, and Kai Sotto who have already returned to their respective teams in the Japan B. League while Rhenz Abando is already in South Korea.
“On September 17, there will be a DRM. Whether our appeal will be granted or not will be discussed there along with transportation and accommodation issues.”
Tolentino, however, refused to speculate on the chances of their appeal.
“As for our chances for our appeal, I can’t answer that.”
Tolentino, the incumbent mayor of Tagaytay City, said the new players have already represented the country in previous international events.
Abueva and Romeo, for instance, were part of the Gilas team that clinched the silver medal in the 2015 FIBA Asia Men’s Championship while Pringle played for Gilas in the 18th Asian Games in Jakarta in 2018 and the 30th Southeast Asian Games in Manila in 2019.
Perkins and Tautuaa also won a gold medal for Gilas in the men’s 3×3 event of the 30th SEA Games.
“It just so happened that the players aren’t on the long list so we are appealing to allow them since that are Filipinos, played for the national team before and already have Philippine passports 10 years ago,” Tolentino said during the Pandesal Forum which was also graced by business leaders George Barcelon, Dr. Cecilio Pedro and Sergio Luis Ortiz Jr.
“We’re appealing on that everyday and we’re praying we will be allowed to do it.”
The Philippines is in Group C along with Thailand, Bahrain and Jordan, who will be bannered by naturalized player and PBA Governors’ Cup Best Import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson.
