MANILA, Philippines - The 14 Gilas Pilipinas hopefuls fight an opposing team and compete with one another as they take on Italy in Day One of a four-team, two-day pocket tournament at The Paladozza in Bologna, Italy on Saturday (early Sunday morning in Manila).
It’s the final reckoning among the Gilas training pool members with coach Tab Baldwin to announce at 6 p.m. today, Manila time, the final composition of Team Phl that competes in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament at the MOA Arena on July 5-10.
“Play your hearts out tomorrow because tomorrow will be a factor. I just want you all to be aware of that,” said Baldwin at the end of their second day of training in Bologna.
“I also want you to know it would be a bad day for me. It would be a especially bad day because two guys who do not deserve to be dropped will be dropped,” Baldwin added.
Before playing their second game in the Bologna pocket tourney that also features Canada and China, Baldwin has to name his Final 12 as per the deadline set by FIBA.
“On Sunday, it will be an ordinary day for 12 of you. For two guys, it will be a bad day. I’ll have to make an announcement on the team’s lineup,” Baldwin said.
“Tomorrow’s game, that’s your final tryout, so to speak. Only the 12 selected will play on Sunday. That’s the process. We live with the process,” Baldwin added.
The 12 players that will represent the country in the final qualifying tourney for the Rio Olympics will finally be known after a process of selection and training that commenced with the once-a-week practices starting late last year.
Greg Slaughter, Marcio Lassiter, Paul Lee, Matt Ganuelas-Rosser, Moala Tautuaa and some cadet players including Kiefer Ravena, Kevin Ferrer, Marc Belo, Roger Pogoy and Russell Escoto had had their participation in the training.
With the health problems of Slaughter, Lee, Ganuelas-Rosser and Lassiter, Andray Blatche, Calvin Abueva, Japeth Aguilar, Jayson Castro, Jeff Chan, Ranidel de Ocampo, June Mar Fajardo, Gabe Norwood, Marc Pingris, Terrence Romeo, Troy Rosario, Ryan Reyes, LA Tenorio and Bobby Ray Parks were the Gilas 14 flown to Europe for the crucial part of the buildup for the Manila OQT.
Now comes the time for Baldwin to make the final cut, with two to be relegated as reserves.
Baldwin can make a roster change during the team managers’ meeting on the eve of the tourney, but one player change requires a penalty fee.
Barring health problems, naturalized player Blatche and the six other holdovers from the Changsha Asian meet are expected to banner the Gilas 12 that will go up against France on July 5 then New Zealand on July 6.
Team Phl needs to make the Top Two of that group to advance to the crossover knockout versus the best two from among Turkey, Canada and Senegal.
Separate OQTs in Turin and Serbia will be played to fill three remaining spots in the Rio Olympics in August.