GILAS Pilipinas is set to leave for the 31st FIBA Asia Cup with a 12-man team.
RJ Abarrientos and Troy Rosario were left behind as the national team departed for Jeddah, Saudi Arabia late Wednesday night.
Deputy team manager Willie Marcial confirmed the non-inclusion of the two Barangay Ginebra players in the official Gilas Pilipinas lineup.
READ Injured Oftana joins Gilas in trip to Jeddah for Asia Cup
The two were invited to attend the team’s training camp in Pampanga and in its friendly against the Macau Black Bears as standby players just in case forward Calvin Oftana wont’ be available.
But with the TNT gunner given the clearance to play despite nursing a double ankle sprain, Abarrientos and Rosario were scratched from the roster of the Gilas team out to regain the basketball gold in the quadrennial showcase after 40 years.
As things stand, Gilas has naturalized player Justin Brownlee, Oftana, June Mar Fajardo, CJ Perez, Scottie Thompson, Japeth Aguilar, Jamie Malonzo, Chris Newsome, Dwight Ramos, AJ Edu, Carl Tamayo, and Kevin Quiambao.
Abarrientos suited up in Gilas’ 103-98 comeback win against the Macau Black Bears last Monday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, finishing with two points in five minutes of play.
Rosario didn’t play but was in uniform.
The Ginebra rookie guard was thankful for the opportunity to be considered again as part of the Gilas team.
“Siyempre, I’m very grateful na naging part ako kahit dito sa tune-up. Yung mga maliliit na bagay tulad nito kailangan mong i-cherish,” said Abarrientos. “I’m happy lang na part ako nito. Siyempre kailangan nila ng extra body sa practice at sa games.”
Gilas Pilipinas left for the Middle East at least one week prior to the start of the August 5-17 tournament.
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.
