Carl Tamayo begs off from Gilas' FIBA WC grind says Chot Reyes

Carl Tamayo has begged off from Gilas duties. FIBA (file photo)

By Ivan Saldajeno

PASIG—The current injury situation for some Gilas Pilipinas players took a plot twist on Monday night when coach Chot Reyes confirmed that Carl Tamayo won't be joining the national team practice for the FIBA World Cup.

Reyes said that the camp of the newly-crowned Japan B.League champion relayed to the Gilas coaching staff his decision earlier in the day.

"Today, we already got word that Carl Tamayo is going to beg off because he doesn't think he's going to be fully healthy to go through the entire process, and we respect that. So that's one person less," Reyes said after Gilas finally swung to practice at the Meralco Gym.

Reyes then bared that Tamayo has a knee injury, but the multi-titled coach also allayed fears that it could be a dreaded one.

"His MRI did not show any significant injury, but I think he needs to get some work done on his knee. I think he needs to get some PRP (platelet-rich plasma) next week," Reyes further said.

While he added that Tamayo could join the practices as early as the week after his knee treatment, Reyes rued that Tamayo won't make it in time for Gilas' Lithuanian trip.

Tamayo is one of the players Reyes included in his "23 for '23" Gilas Cadets pool in 2018 but one of only six who eventually made the World Cup pool.

With him begging off, Gilas' pool is now down to 20 players.

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