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| Gilas Pilipinas takes a photo together during the FIBA World Cup Content Day. FIBA |
MANILA--Gilas Pilipinas finally reopened its pre-FIBA World Cup practice to the media on Tuesday night following a string of closed-door training sessions and tune-up games.
Only 13 players, however, were in attendance during the Tuesday training at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig, namely Jordan Clarkson, Kai Sotto, Dwight Ramos, Scottie Thompson, June Mar Fajardo, Jamie Malonzo, Japeth Aguilar, Rhenz Abando, RR Pogoy, AJ Edu, CJ Perez, Kiefer Ravena, and Chris Newsome.
The said players first took a picture together during the FIBA World Cup Content Day event at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
Ray-Ray Parks and Thirdy Ravena, who were not present in all three recent Gilas tune-up games, were still absent in the open practice as well as the pictorial, and some fans have already speculated that they might have already been cut from the final 12-man team to the FIBA World Cup.
Calvin Oftana, who played against Montenegro on Sunday night but was a DNP against Mexico the night after, was not in attendance during Tuesday's festivities.
With the said absences in consideration, Gilas could just be down to only 13 men in contention for the 12-man final lineup to the FIBA World Cup.
Coach Chot Reyes, however, remained adamant that the announcement of the Final 12 will take place during the technical meeting on Wednesday.
However, he basically named one shoo-in to the Final 12, team captain Aguilar, and coupled with the longstanding understanding that Clarkson headlines Gilas to the FIBA World Cup, only 10 players are yet to be announced.
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