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| Gilas Pilipinas coach Tim Cone addressed the current state of the national team following a solid showing in the FIBA OQT. SBP |
MANDALUYONG--Don't expect RJ Abarrientos to be quickly inserted into the Gilas Pilipinas pool at least as an injury reserve even if he was drafted to coach Tim Cone's pro club Ginebra.
Cone said on Monday that it might take some time before Abarrientos could join the national team with the multi-titled coach's tutelage considering that the spitfire point guard still needs to learn the triangle offense system.
Cone then reiterated that he would stand by his main 12-man roster as much as possible unless the need arises.
"That's a long way away right now. He's a young guy... but I keep emphasizing every time you put somebody in a team, you have to take somebody out," he said during a press conference called by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas on Monday at the Cignal Customer Experience Center.
"We're gonna stay with 12 guys," Cone added, referring to Scottie Thompson, AJ Edu, Jamie Malonzo, Kai Sotto, June Mar Fajardo, Dwight Ramos, Chris Newsome, Carl Tamayo, Kevin Quiambao, Justin Brownlee, Calvin Oftana, and CJ Perez.
Edu and Malonzo were first ruled out of the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament, paving the way for Japeth Aguilar and Mason Amos, the designated injury reserves, to be activated.
Thompson was later ruled out as he did not make the Gilas training camp at the Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba City, and Gilas was forced to play the OQT and the tune-up games that came before that with only 11 players.
Cone admitted that he had discussions with four guards to join the national team in Thompson's place before eventually deciding to go 11-strong in Riga.
Gilas then lost Sotto to a rib injury during their game against Georgia, and they had to continue on with only 10 players active.
With Thompson's back injury still a concern, Gilas and Ginebra fans thought about the possibility of bringing Abarrientos, the third pick of the PBA Draft on Sunday night, to the national pool.
Cone clarified that Abarrientos joining the Gilas pool remains a possibility.
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