FROM Chot Reyes' choices for the new members of the Gilas Pilipinas 5.0 pool, no one raised more eyebrows than LA Revilla and Norbert Torres.
Revilla is a three-year pro who, although he has made a significant impact for Mahindra in the PBA, has mostly toiled in the shadows of the league's prominent guards while the 6-7 Torres has yet to really blossom in two seasons with Star and Phoenix.
[See LA Revilla, Norbert Torres surprise selections in Reyes' new Gilas 5.0 pool]
Talking to reporters after announcing the 12 new members of the Gilas pool to add to the cadets on Sunday, Reyes admitted that he and his staff 'took a hard look' at Alex Mallari but changed their mind when they realized the Mahindra Fil-Am guard is ineligible to play for Gilas.
The Gilas staff then decided Revilla best fits Reyes' fast-paced system.
"From their team we thought they were the best fit for Gilas," Reyes said, explaining the decision to go with the two former La Salle standouts.
"We took a took a hard look at Alex Mallari but he's ineligible (to play for Gilas) because he wasn't born here. And the other player who's really playing well there is him (Revilla)," said Reyes.
[See Changing of the guard as Pingris, De Ocampo, Norwood pass Gilas torch to younger players]
On the other hand, Reyes said the Phoenix spot in the Gilas pool became a toss-up between Torres and Intal, who was a member of Tab Baldwin's Gilas side in the 2015 Fiba Asia Championship.
Eventually, age influenced the coaching staff's decision, Reyes said.
"Norbert Torres sa Phoenix is a toss-up between him and JC Intal. But JC is 34 yrs old unfortunately. So in three years time, he will be 36 or 37 so that wouldn't work out for us," he said.
Torres is 27.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
