Fajardo, 12 others attend resumption of Gilas practice

MANILA, Philippines – Reigning back-to-back PBA MVP June Mar Fajardo and 12 other players showed up as Gilas Pilipinas resumed its once-a-week training for the Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) Monday night at the Moro Lorenzo Sports Center inside Ateneo campus in Katipunan, Quezon City.

Fajardo showed up but just stayed on the sideline together with San Miguel Beer teammate Marcio Lassiter in Gilas’ first workout in two months or since coach Tab Baldwin called a break in training to give way to the PBA Philippine Cup playoffs.

Sweating it out in the session were Marc Pingris, Terrence Romeo, LA Tenorio, Japeth Aguilar, Gabe Norwood, Jeff Chan, Mo Tautuaa, Troy Rosario, Matt Ganuelas-Rosser and cadets Kiefer Ravena and Kevin Ferrer.

No-shows were Greg Slaughter, Ranidel de Ocampo, Paul Lee, Calvin Abueva, Jayson Castro, Ryan Reyes and Ian Sangalang.

In full force were Baldwin and his Gilas coaching staff including Jong Uichico, Alex Compton, Norman Black and Josh Reyes. The Gilas chieftain has just returned from a trip to the United States.

From today, Gilas has over four months to prepare for its ambitious quest to make the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

But Baldwin could likely have an honest-to-goodness training only after the PBA Commissioner’s Cup by mid-May.

The Philippines plays host to one of the three OQTs where Gilas Pilipinas vies for an Olympic berth versus France, New Zealand, Canada, Senegal and Turkey.

Gilas is bracketed with France and New Zealand, needing to be in the top two of the group to make the knockout semifinals versus the top two in the other group.

First up for the Nationals are the French on July 5, then the Kiwis on the next day.

Gilas hopes to carry the country back to the Olympics for the first time since the 1972 Munich Games.