Gilas Pilipinas coach Tim Cone announced the replacements to the team’s roster in the Hangzhou Asian Games after organizers denied the inclusion of four players.
The replacements are Chris Ross, Kevin Alas, Arvin Tolentino and CJ Perez, who will replace Terrence Romeo, Calvin Abueva, Mo Tautuaa and Jason Perkins.
As this developed, the Philippine Olympic Committee, headed by Rep. Abraham Tolentino, will make a last-ditch appeal for the inclusion of Romeo and Co.
“So that’s where we stand. We want these four guys on the team. We heard the answer was no. But, it’s not official,” said Cone during a briefing held Tuesday at the Philippine Basketball Association offices in Libis, Quezon City.
The replacements, together with the fifth new player in Marcio Lassiter, have reported for the practices of the Gilas Pilipinas team.
Lassiter’s name is included in the initial list of 60 players and in the second roster of 37 cagers drafted.
Lassiter continued to join practices at the Inspire Academy in Calamba, Laguna.
And so have Romeo, Abueva, Tautuaa and Perkins even though their inclusion was already denied by Hangzhou organizers.
The replacements for the four have also reported for the scrimmages on Tuesday.
Sixteen players are now practicing on short notice and Cone said he will make up his mind on the team’s composition by Thursday.
“We’ve gone a lot smaller with our lineup, with Arvin filling up the point guard position,” said Cone.
Lassiter, according to Cone, will take the place Roger Pogoy, who won’t be available after he begged off due to serious health reasons.
Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas chief Al Panlilio was around to hear out Cone, along with team manager Al Chua, PBA commissioner Willlie Marcial, PBA chairman Ricky Vargas, and vice chairman Bobby Rosales.