FILIPINO players in the Korean Basketball League led by RJ Abarrientos and SJ Belangel are definitely under consideration for Gilas Pilipinas in the Fiba Basketball World Cup Asian qualifiers windows.
But for now, Gilas coach Chot Reyes said he will stick to the players currently practicing with the team for the November window.
See Kai Sotto, Scottie, Fajardo, Perez, Pogoy make Gilas 20-man pool
Abarrientos and Belangel have been putting up solid performances for their respective ballclubs in the KBL, prompting some fans to call for their inclusion to the Gilas team in the windows.
When asked during the Power and Play program of Philippine Sports Commission chairman Noli Eala on Saturday about Abarrientos, Reyes said he is still part of the pool.
“All of the pool members are still in the radar,” said Reyes. “But for now, we want to go to take a look at the guys that we have currently, the guys who are practicing now kasi sila ‘yung nagpapractice na eh. We want to take a look at that.”
RJ Abarrientos's club Ulsan in running second in the KBL.
“We all know what RJ can do, what SJ Belangel can do and all of those guys. Now, it’s time to take a look at the others,” said Reyes.
Abarrientos and Belangel logged two games in the qualifiers, seeing action on June 30 and July 30.
Abarrientos also saw action in the Fiba Asia Cup, averaging 3.3 points in 5.3 minutes of play, while Belangel was also in the tournament posting 8.5 points and 2.0 assists in 18.8 minutes during the stint where Gilas Pilipinas missed out on the quarterfinals.
On Friday, Abarrientos got the better of Belangel in their first match-up in the KBL season when Ulsan Hyundai Mobis Phoebus defeated Daegu KOGAS Pegasus, 81-71.
Abarrientos had 17 points, three rebounds, three assists, and one steal for Ulsan, while Belangel had 13 points in the contest.
For the November window, Reyes said Gilas is now looking at what Scottie Thompson and CJ Perez can bring to the national team as part of the build-up for the Fiba Basketball World Cup.
“I have two games with Scottie Thompson pa lang and now, we are looking forward to having CJ Perez in the mix. When you do that, some guys have to take a backseat muna para makita muna natin how these guys are doing,” said Reyes.
“As much as we want to, hindi puwedeng lahat sila nandoon. That’s what we are looking at right now,” said Reyes.
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