Chot facing roster problems for FIBA Asia Champions Cup

MANILA, Philippines — National team head coach Chot Reyes is still putting together the crew he will be fielding in the FIBA Asia Champions Cup (ACC) in China.

But he is hopeful he figures it out this weekend.

“The shoo-ins are Kiefer (Ravena), (Raymar) Jose, Isaiah Austin, (Alfrancis) Tamsi and Norbert (Torres),” he said during Chooks-to-Go’s practice in at the Meralco Gym Thursday night.

“Hopefully, over the weekend, we can make a decision,” the veteran tactician said. “We have a tune-up [game] on Saturday (night). Hopefully after that we could make a lineup.”

Personnel problems continue to hound the Chooks-to-Go squad, as some of the Gilas reliables are still serving their mother teams in the Philippine Basketball Association.

“A lot is going to depend on the PBA — with the teams that are going to be eliminated,” Reyes shared. “That’s why we can’t make a decision on Terrence (Romeo) and (Carl Bryan Cruz) yet.”

The GlobalPort Batang Pier and the Alaska Aces are still in contention for a playoffs spot in the season-ending Governors Cup.

Reyes is expected to run a few more practice sessions and play the NLEX-SCTEX team bound for the Merlion Cup on Saturday night before unveiling his picks for the skirmish set on September 22.

The FIBA-ACC is a club tournament that will be played in Chenzhou, China.  The Philippines has won the contest’s top honors for four times. The last Filipino crew that won the crown was Hapee Toothpaste in 1996.

China Kashgar, the reigning champion, is led by Gilas Pilipinas’ naturalized player Andray Blatche.