Gilas’ lack of rim protection looms minus Kai Sotto, Japeth Aguilar in final Fiba window

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Gilas Pilipinas center Kai Sotto during the match against Jordan in the fifth window of the Fiba Asia World Cup qualifiers. Photo by Fiba

MANILA, Philippines—Gilas Pilipinas continued their preparations for the sixth and final window of the Fiba World Cup Asian Qualifiers on Monday in full swing.

National coach Chot Reyes eliminated Japeth Aguilar and Kai Sotto in the two home stands that will be played at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.

“Our main concern now is to try to compensate for the lack of our top two defenders – Japeth and Kai. Without them, it will give the defense a lot of problems,” he told reporters after training at the Meralco Gym in Pasig City.

That leaves Reyes and the national team with only Juni Mar Fajardo, Raymond Almazan, and 18-year-old Mason Amos as front-line options for two different rosters that will be built around naturalized player Justin Brownlee.

The Philippines, who have a 5-3 card in Group E, will have a pair of grudge matches. The Nationals played streaking Lebanon on February 24th and then avenged Jordan three days later.

Joining the training at Gilas’ long-standing training facility was Kiefer Ravena, who arrived ahead of the group. He was the only B.League to report for training.

Dwight Ramos, Ray Parks Jr., Thirdy Ravena, and Jordan Heading will participate in preparations in the coming days, according to Reyes himself.

Carl Tamayo, who recently chose to trade in Japan, has not returned Gilas’ calls.

“He was supposed to be here but he wasn’t,” Reyes said of the former UP star. “I don’t know what the plans are and if he will be available in this window.

“But apart from June Mar (and Raymond), the only other big guy has it [consistently] shown is Mason.

“That’s what most of us grew up with,” he said.

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