The coach of Gilas Pilipinas, Tim Cone, tipped his cap at RJ Abarrief and Troy Rosario after having decided to stick to his usual reliable in the alignment of 12 men of the national team for the FIBA Asia Cup, which begins next week in Djeddah, in Saudi Arabia.
Abarrientos and Rosario were the last CONSE cups despite part of the accumulation of gilas for the continental tournament since July 7. The two did not join the contingent when he left for Jeddah on Wednesday evening.
The Philippine team arrived early Thursday and will start the final preparations for the Asian Cup set from August 5 to August 17 once everyone is settling.
“We thank RJ and Troy for their incredible hard work,” said CONE at the Inquirer de Jeddah. “They were absolutely crucial for our preparation and we hate leaving them behind.”
CONE has chosen to go with those on which he has relied since he became the permanent coach of Gilas, namely Justin Brownlee, June Mar Fajardo, Scottie Thompson, Dwight Ramos, Japeth Aguilar, Calvin Oftana, Chris Newsome, CJ Perez, Carl Tamayo, AJ Edu, Kevin Quiambao and Jamie Malonzo.
The passage of Malonzo will be quite interesting after an astonishing movement which saw him sign with Kyoto Hannaryz of B. League of Japan, interrupting what was to be a long passage with CONE and the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings.
The Japanese club made this announcement on social networks Thursday, the same day, Malonzo celebrated its 29th birthday. Malonzo signed a two -year agreement with Ginebra in October 2023.
Oftana has always been selected by CONE despite being tried earlier as a “50-50 chance” for the Asian Cup due to its ankle injury.
Kai Sotto had been excluded from the Asian Cup several months ago due to an LCA injury he suffered during the passage of B. League from last season with the Koshigaya alphas.
Abarrientos and Rosario, who also play for CONE in Barangay Ginebra, were added to an enlarged swimming pool for the Asian Cup, with Rhenz Abando, which recently returned to South Korea with his old Anyang club, and Zavier Lucero de Magnolia.
Eligibility status
But abandonment did not join Gilas after helping the athletics of a solid group to keep the title of the William Jones Cup in Taiwan when there is still no clarity on the FIBA eligibility status of Lucero.
“We are going with the originals (at the Asian Cup),” said CONE. “RJ and Troy will continue to be key songs from the team as we move forward.”
Abarrientos is no stranger to help Gilas, after joining the camp of the Sports Academy Inspire in Laguna during the preparations for the last window of the Asian Cup qualifications in February with his Ginebra teammate, Ralph Cu.
Ginebra’s recruit played in the Monday shipping match against Macao’s Black Bears at Smart Araneta Coliseum, which was an indication of its possible inclusion to 12.
“I am grateful and grateful to be part of the team,” said Abarrientos after the Black Bears exhibition. “Whether or not they need me to be in Jeddah, I’m still ready.”
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Rosario seemed to have been an obvious cup after this same match, when he did not see any action against Macao. However, the veteran of many Gilas teams in FIBA tournaments expressed support on social networks.
“The objective is more important than the role,” said Rosario on her Instagram account. “Good luck, brothers!”
