Reyes drops Abueva, Almazan from Gilas pool

MANILA, Philippines — Gilas coach Chot Reyes dropped Calvin Abueva and Raymond Almazan from the pool of Gilas players for lack of interest in training even as Mac Belo looks forward to finally donning the Gilas uniform for the second window of the FIBA World Cup qualifiers.

“The reason why we’re dropping Abueva and Almazan for the second window (is that) they haven’t showed up. It’s already our third practice and they haven’t shown up. It’s simply a matter of disinterest,” said Reyes.

“It’s just a question of dedication and desire,” Reyes pointed out. “Kung gusto mo maraming paraan, pag ayaw mo maraming dahilan di ba? (If you wanted it there is a lot of ways to do it, if you don’t, there is a lot of reasons to give). That’s the reason why we do these once-a-week practices. We want to see who are the people who really want to be here and that’s a big part of what we’re looking for from these guys.”

 Abueva said he is nursing  a hamstring injury while Almazan wanted more time to recharge following a big dip in his game.

“Remember, he had a spat with (Rain or Shine) coach Caloy (Garcia) regarding his game?” said Danny Espiritu, Almazan’s agent. “He wants to recover first.”

With Almazan and Abueva out, Belo, Troy Rosario, Japeth Aguilar and June Mar Fajardo are the frontline players left in the 15-man pool.

Jayson Castro, Kiefer Ravena, Kevin Alas, Jio Jalalon, RR Pogoy, Matthew Wright, Allein Maliksi, Gabe Norwood and Carl Bryan Cruz are those fighting out for the guard and the wing spots.

Making up the Gilas team in the first WC elims window were Andray Blatche, Fajardo, Aguilar, Abueva, Rosario, Castro, Ravena, Alas, Pogoy, Wright, Maliksi and Norwood.

Belo didn’t make it there, enduring an injury he suffered at the start of the Gilas training in Tagaytay in 2016.

After his recovery and rehab from surgery, the former FEU standout was given a chance in a few games in the 2017 Jones Cup. Way off from his deadly form, Belo missed the Phl team to the 2017 FIBA Asia Cup, the 2017 SEA Games and the Gilas’ opening games in the WC qualifiers versus Japan and Chinese Taipei.

Belo, however, may finally make it with the Gilas pool down to 13.

Gilas will soon step up its training in preparation for its games versus Australia in Melbourne on Feb. 22 and versus Japan at the MOA Arena on Feb. 25.

The Nationals will be out to sustain the momentum of their sweep of the Japanese and the Taiwanese in the opening frame of the qualifiers. Team Phl topped the Japanese, 77-71, then rolled past the Taiwanese, 90-83.