WITHOUT its a high-scoring playmaker, the men’s national basketball team will put its trust on the availability of versatile guards who will run the tempo against a vengeful Japanese squad on Friday.
Members of Gilas Pilipinas flew to the enemy territory last Tuesday without injured GlobalPort hotshot Terrence Romeo—an explosive player with in-and-out game who is regarded as heir apparent to two-time Asia’s best point guard Jayson Castro.
The 5-foot-11 Romeo had a knee contusion and was on a day-to-day basis in practice. He attended two workout sessions but was practically just a spectator on the sidelines.
The former University Athletic Association of the Philippine Most Valuable Player was listed in the 16-man pool of Head Coach Chot Reyes.
But because of the extent of Romeo’s injury, which Reyes mentioned as “nothing serious,” the coaching staff is expected to take a second look on the available players to fill in the huge void in the guard spot.
Along with the reliable Castro, Gilas has Kiefer Ravena and Kevin Alas.
Among the two A-list guards, Ravena has the advantage in international experience, having played in four Southeast Asian (SEA) Games and in this year’s William Jones Cup in Taiwan and 2017 Fiba Asia Champions Cup in China.
The three-year pro Alas also had foreign exposures in the 2013 Myanmar SEA Games and 2014 Fiba Asia Cup.
The two youngsters are part of the NLEX team, with Ravena being No. 2 in the Rookie Draft. Coach Yeng Guiao earlier expressed his high hopes for his team’s new backcourt tandem.
Reyes may opt to pick one or select the two guards to play with shoo-in Castro. He will announce the final 12 on the eve of their encounter against Japan.
The pool is also composed of Andray Blatche, June Mar Fajardo, Calvin Abueva, Raymond Almazan, Japeth Aguilar, Troy Rosario, Gabe Norwood, Allein Maliksi and Matthew Wright.
Completing the training pool are Roger Pogoy, Mac Belo and Carl Bryan Cruz.
