Mainstays lead Gilas Final 14

MANILA, Philippines - Old Gilas cadet players Mac Belo, Kevin Ferrer and Arnold Vosotros lead the list of players making the Final 14 of the Philippine team bound for the FIBA Asia Challenge in Tehran, Iran next month.

SEABA Championship veterans Mike Tolomia, Russel Escoto and Roger Pogoy also made the roster that is curiously without Kiefer Ravena, Bobby Ray Parks and Jio Jalalon.

Ravena and Parks are apparently not yet decided on whether they’re joining the next Gilas pool to be trained for the next FIBA World Cup qualifier. Jalalon didn’t make it due to the conflict of the FIBA Asia Challenge schedule with that of the current NCAA season.

Others left in contention for the Final 12 of coach Josh Reyes to the Tehran meet are Ed Daquioag, Von Pessumal, Arnold Van Opstal, Jonathan Grey, Jaymar Perez, Alfonzo Gotladera, Carl Bryan Cruz and Chris Javier.

Among those cut from the initial 24-man roster were Matt Wright, Mon Alvin Abundo, Yutien Andrada, Kemark Carino and Arvin Dave Tolentino.

Team Phl secured berth in the Tehran tourney in topping the SEABA Stankovic Cup in Bangkok, Thailand a few months ago. Other countries which have booked spots in the 12-nation tourney slated Sept. 9-18 are Iran, China, Jordan, Iraq, Thailand and India.

Nash Racela, coach of the Stankovic Cup-winning Team Phl, is helping out in training but will not be able to join the Tehran trip as he’s tied up with the coming UAAP season.