WITH the recent development in the Southeast Asian Games men’s basketball five-on-five eligibility rules, head coach Norman Black is left scrambling to fill in the four remaining spots for Gilas Pilipinas in the coming biennial games.
With less than two weeks ‘til they play Malaysia on December 14, the team is only comprised of Jamie Malonzo, Robert Bolick, Abu Tratter, Von Pessumal, Matthew Wright, Veejay Pre and Thirdy Ravena, with Ray Parks set to fly to a later date due to his commitment in the Japan B-League.
READ: Gilas racing against time looking for last 4 players of SEA Games
Black, also acting as consultant to San Beda in the NCAA, shared that he’s already got six players joining in their Tuesday evening practice to try and figure out the final four players.
“Well, I'm headed to practice right now, and I guess by tomorrow, we'll be able to tell you the names,” Black said as he rushed off to that said practice after San Beda’s 91-72 win over St. Benilde in the NCAA Season 101 semifinals.
Black, however, refused to name those players until he’s sure that they’ll be eligible to play.
“I wouldn't call it a tryout, but we still haven't decided who the last four guys are going to be. Mainly because we're trying to make sure that they'll become eligible,” he said.
“I don’t want to have a situation where we put names in again, and guys aren't eligible,” he continued in an exasperated tone.
Racing against time and the flip-flopping rules of the organizer, the turnaround for finalizing lineups has been so hilariously quick for Gilas that even Black has been working around the clock in looking for local talent to take the spots.
Still, even with the increasingly frustrating complications, the shotcaller uttered with confidence:
“It'll be done by tomorrow.”
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