Gilas taps RJ Abarrientos, Ralph Cu for February 'Calambubble'

RJ Abarrientos is back with Gilas but only as a practice player for a short training camp. PBA Images (file photo)

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANDALUYONG--Racing against time in preparation for the Doha International Cup and the February window of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers, Gilas Pilipinas is bringing back RJ Abarrientos for a two-day training camp at the Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba City.

However, Gilas Pilipinas program director Alfrancis Chua clarified that the Ginebra rookie guard and super sub Ralph Cu will only be there in the national team's latest "Calambubble" as practice players just to give Troy Rosario and Justin Brownlee some good rest from the wear and tear of the PBA Commissioner's Cup quarterfinals.

"Paaakyatin namin si Cu at saka si Abarrientos para sa ensayo makumpleto habang nagpapahinga yung iba," Chua, also the PBA board vice chairman, said on Monday after the unveiling of the special league logo for its 50th founding anniversary at Launchpad.

Both Rosario and Brownlee hurt themselves in the process following the Gin Kings' grueling three-game series against Gilas teammate Chris Newsome and the Meralco Bolts.

According to Chua, Rosario suffered some swelling in his knee, while Brownlee played Game 3 on Sunday night with some blisters in his feet.

The Gilas Calambubble will happen on Tuesday and Wednesday, and the national team will leave for Doha on Thursday.

Chua said that AJ Edu and Dwight Ramos will arrive from Japan and South Korea later on Monday and will enter the short training camp at Inspire.

The Ginebra governor then bared that because they still have to play on Wednesday night, Newsome and Carl Tamayo will miss the Calambubble and will fly straight to Doha for the pre-ACQ pocket tournament.

Meralco will travel to Taiwan to face New Taipei in a do-or-die showdown for the last seat in the EASL semifinals.

Changwon, on the other hand, will travel to Seoul to take on Seoul SK in a KBL regular season showdown between the top two teams in the team standings.

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