Smaller but Faster: Gilas Pilipinas 2017 FIBA Asia Cup Without Blatche, A Few Surprises
Not a lot of surprises on the final 12 man team who will be heading to Lebanon to compete for the upcoming 2017 FIBA Asia Cup on August 8 to 20, 2017. This is one of the sought after events for the Gilas Pilipinas as a win in this tourney would qualify them for the FIBA World Cup in 2019.
But let's not get ahead of ourselves. The final 12 was announced by head coach Chot Reyes on twitter and had a lot of familiar names except Alien Maliksi and Troy Rosario who were not included as part of the locals. Carl Cruz, however, made it to the line up together with Giovanni Jallon, Roger Pogoy, and Matthew Wright, all of them had a great game during the Jones Cup.
The biggest change however in the line up is that we are missing our big man in the middle. Andray Blatche was not part of the lineup citing security concerns in Lebanon as the reason. Hustleman Christian Standhardinger will replace him as the naturalized player.
Gilas Pilipinas 2017 FIBA Asia Cup
Jayson Castro
Calvin Abueva
Terrence Romeo
Jiovani Jalalon
Roger Pogoy
Matthew Wright
Gabe Norwood
Carl Cruz
June Mar Fajardo
Japeth Aguilar
Raymond Almazan
Christian Standhardinger
Reserve:
Ed Daquioag
12 men; 12 practices; hopefully for 12 days in Beirut #LabanPilipinasPuso pic.twitter.com/AIrfSKO2GV— Chot Reyes (@coachot) July 25, 2017
Tell us What do you think of the 2017 Gilas Pilipinas line up for the FIBA Asia Cup?
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