GILAS Pilipinas won’t be having one of its biggest outside threats in its FIBA World Cup campaign after Jordan Heading has been ruled out of the team due to a back injury.
“Nope,” national team coach Chot Reyes curtly replied when asked if the Fil-Australian gunner would still be coming over and join the team going to the final phase of its preparations for basketball’s biggest event.
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Heading has been bothered by a back issue that has kept him out of the team since it began training for the World Cup last month.
Team manager Butch Antonio said the 27-year-old shooting guard is currently in Manila, but is scheduled to go back again to the US.
“Babalik na rin siya ng US to continue his rehab,” he said after Gilas concluded its night practice on Monday at the Meralco gym.
Asked if Heading’s back injury is the same as the one suffered by center Kai Sotto during the NBA Summer League, Antonio has exactly no idea.
“I don’t know kasi how extensive yung back injury ni Jordan,” added the Gilas team manager. “But probably due to constant playing na rin. Year round din kasi siya naglalaro, e.”
Heading was a major part of Reyes’ rotation during the sixth and final window of the World Cup qualifiers held at the Philippine Arena last February.
He averaged 9.2 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists in the two-game series which saw Gilas beat Lebanon, 107-96, but lost to Jordan, 91-90.
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