Nationals top Iran in pre-send off exhibition hopes high for Euro-bound Gilas

MANILA, Philippines – Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Manny V. Pangilinan yesterday said the list of “Gilas 14” which will contend for berths in the national team was quite impressive and expressed hopes of a highly competitive squad that will compete in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament slated July 5-10 at the MOA Arena.

He, however, deferred to national coach Tab Baldwin to make the final roster after the team’s three-week European training stint.

The list was presented to Pangilinan during the formal send-off rites for the pool of aspirants at the Novotel Hotel in Cubao last night.

“I saw the list. It’s really the coaches’ call, coach Tab’s call. I gave my own views – some are strong, some are not. Eventually, it’s the coach’s decision,” said Pangilinan.

Only Baldwin, Andray Blatche, June Mar Fajardo, Gabe Norwood, Marc Pingris and Ryan Reyes represented Gilas in the send-off rites with the other players suiting up for a tune-up game later in the night against Iran at the nearby Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Gilas Pilipinas toppled Iran, 81-70, in that match where Blatche came through with game highs of 20 points and 11 rebounds in a sparkling performance he spiked with two big defensive stops that sparked Team Phl’s decisive 9-0 closing run.

Baldwin deferred the announcement of the Final 14 since there were still health issues on Marcio Lassiter.

Shoo-ins for the trip are Blatche, Fajardo, Japeth Aguilar, Ranidel de Ocampo, Pingris, Troy Rosario, Norwood, Calvin Abueva, Jeff Chan, Reyes, Jayson Castro, Terrence Romeo and Bobby Ray Parks.

They leave tomorrow for a 21-day trip that will send them to Kapernici, Greece; Istanbul, Turkey, and Bologna, Italy.

Towards the end of the trip, Baldwin will be in a conference call with the SBP leadership to name his Final 12 to the Manila OQT – the last bid the country will take to earn passage to the Rio Olympics in August.

Gilas faces a tough task of topping France, New Zealand, Canada, Turkey and Senegal in the six-day MOA tourney to get a ticket to the Rio Games.

Team Phl pitches a nine-day training camp in Kapernici, before playing tune-up matches in Istanbul and Bologna in the final stage of its OQT buildup.

Before an expected  home crowd at the MOA, Gilas Pilipinas seeks a return stint in the Olympics since the 1972 Munich Games.

First up for Gilas Pilipinas will be France on July 5, then New Zealand on July 6.

“We’re getting ready to wear our uniform. It’s time for pride,” said Baldwin.