Paras, Fil-German boost SEAG squad

MANILA, Philippines -  A combination of Gilas cadet players, newcomers, led by Kobe Paras and Fil-German Christian Standhardinger, and PBA veterans Troy Rosario and Baser Amer makes up the national team seeking to defend the most precious medal staked in the coming Southeast Asian Games – the men’s basketball gold.

Rosario, Amer, Almond Vosotros, Kevin Ferrer, Kiefer Ravena and Ray Ray Parks are SEAG veterans to be joined in by newcomers Mike Tolomia, Von Pessumal, Carl Bryan Cruz and Raymar Jose for the biennial meet slated Aug. 19-30 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The SEABA Gilas team or its core, meanwhile, will be tapped to compete in the FIBA Asia Cup in Lebanon on Aug. 8-20. 

Next month, another set of Gilas cadet team to be reinforced by TNT KaTropa reserve import Mike Myers will vie in the Jones Cup in Taipei.

“First time in history that we’ve seen and we’ve come across so many tournaments – tournaments that overlapping and tournaments running right smack to each other. We have to be adaptable,” said Gilas coach Chot Reyes.

The Gilas chieftain said it’s good that they have developed a program that entices players to join the pool.

“The program that we’ve built attracts players volunteering and wanting to be part of the pool. Whereas before players make excuses so as not to be part of it. The situation has changed,” Reyes pointed out.

Paras, 19, represents the future, Ravena and Parks are both Gilas returnees while Standhardinger is the latest Gilas Fil-foreign recruit.

“Kobe’s skills set is perfect for him. One thing apart from all his skills and all his talent, one thing that we want him in the program is his age. We want him at 19 to get exposed to elite basketball at this point.

“Kobe is going to be the face, forerunner and symbol of the Gilas youth brigade. In the Jones Cup, he’ll face all the killers in his spot, the best Asian shooters, and that will be part of his education,” said Reyes.

Standhardinger, a product of US college ball now playing in the German league, was to make his first appearance in Gilas practice last night.

“But we’ve seen him a lot. Not with this group, but we know how he plays. We’ve been monitoring him and we’ve seen him live already,” said Reyes.