No shoo-ins at Gilas for Fiba World Cup, says Chot Reyes

BOCAUE – Cage leaders have used the Fiba World Cup Qualifiers to identify their roster combinations for the global showpiece in August.

But national coach Chot Reyes insisted on Monday night that there is still “nothing disturbing in the team.”

“No one has a key, and everyone. So now, there is no shoo-in. This applies to all local players, and also naturalized players,” he said during the 91-90 loss to Jordan that closed the Nationals campaign.

A solid outing from Utah Jazz star Clarkson during the August window and two regular performances from PBA import Justin Brownlee this week has spawned a divisive debate on who should take the naturalized slot in the August game.

And this does not include the constant wrangling of which local star or overseas campaigner should fight the best on the planet.

“With Justin’s performance, there’s no telling. You all saw how effective he was and how well he played. [With] as for who the naturalized player is, Justin always knows he’s available for whatever the team needs. If we need someone to play in a certain tournament, if we need someone to be a backup for Jordan Clarkson, he’s willing to play that role,” said the joint program director.

“We [also] have other naturalized players, right? We have Ange Kouame, and we don’t rule out the possibility that we will go out and find another 6-10, 6-11 guy,” Reyes said.

Who fills the naturalized slot for Gilas has depended on the availability of local players. And going for a certain type of player will ask the leader of the cage to adjust the makeup of the roster.

This is evident in Gilas’ efforts to fill the gap regarding the absence of Kai Sotto, the 7-foot-3 big man who asked to leave this window to focus on reviving his NBA dreams.

And Reyes doubled down on that instance.

“With the uncertainty about Kai Sotto’s situation, if he is not going to be available, then I have to think about that as well,” he said.

“I mean, that’s just part of the whole plan that we have on our plate right now,” he said.

“You can’t come and show up and be a team, right? It doesn’t matter who you are. You have to be able to be a part of the preparation. Be that part. Not just be available two weeks before and everything. That’s not going to happen.”

Gilas is now focusing on the Asian Games and several overseas training camps and pocket tournaments to build towards the World Cup.

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