14 present as Gilas begins FIBA WC grind

Scottie Thompson led 14 Gilas players present during their return to practice. Kennelf Monteza (file photo)

By Ivan Saldajeno

PASIG—Gilas Pilipinas began going to work on the road to the FIBA World Cup with 14 players out of its 21-man pool present on Wednesday night.

According to team manager Butch Antonio, June Mar Fajardo, CJ Perez, Scottie Thompson, Japeth Aguilar, RR Pogoy, Poy Erram, Chris Newsome, Kiefer Ravena, Thirdy Ravena, Ray-Ray Parks, Carl Tamayo, Rhenz Abando, Ange Kouame, and AJ Edu were in attendance during the Gilas practice at the Meralco Gym.

However, the training session did not last long since Fajardo, Aguilar, Pogoy, Erram, and Kouame are still nursing injuries.

One of the players absent on Wednesday night, Calvin Oftana, has an injury of his own as well.

Antonio later bared that Gilas will convene anew on Monday night with Oftana, Dwight Ramos, Jordan Heading, and Jamie Malonzo expected to show up.

The three other members of the national pool, Justin Brownlee, Jordan Clarkson, and Kai Sotto, are currently in America for various reasons.

Brownlee, however, is expected to return to the Philippines next week following his son's graduation, while Clarkson will jump in by next month.

Sotto's availability still depends on whether he makes the NBA Summer League or not.

Sotto has finished attending mini-camps with the Utah Jazz and the Dallas Mavericks.

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