FONACIER OUT AS GILAS LEAVES FOR MIAMI
Five weeks before the start of the 2014 FIBA World Cup in Spain, Gilas Pilipinas leaves the country Friday, flying to Miami for a four-day boot camp to start the final stage of its buildup for the World meet.
Gilas coach Chot Reyes said the team is upbeat though deprived of two good matches on the sad fate of the Last HOME Stand event and despite losing the injury-hit Larry Fonacier.
“Everyone’s in great spirits, and except for the fact that we’ll be gone from our families for a long time, everyone’s looking forward to our Miami and Spain trip,” Reyes said.
They take the Delta flight to New York via Tokyo before taking a connecting flight to Miami where they will be finally joined by new naturalized player Andray Blatche.
Minus Fonacier, the pool list is down to Blatche, LA Tenorio, Jayson Castro, Jimmy Alapag, Gabe Norwood, Jeff Chan, Gary David, Jared Dillinger, Ranidel de Ocampo, Marc Pingris, Jay Washington, Japeth Aguilar, June Mar Fajardo, Beau Belga and Marcus Douthit.
“We will definitely miss Larry’s quiet leadership and unyielding heart,” Reyes said of Fonacier who will be left in Manila due to a back injury.
Fonacier, a Gilas mainstay since 2012, has been ordered by his doctors to take a complete rest and rehabilitation.
“Unknown to many, Larry has been playing through a variety of foot and back injuries that have bothered him the past two years; and it is only his great dedication that has prevented him from taking any time off,” Reyes said.
“However, the rigors of playing almost non-stop in the PBA and national team for the past three years has taken its toll, leaving Larry with no recourse but to accede to his doctors’ orders,” Reyes added.
With the Gilas delegation to Miami are team manager Aboy Castro and assistant coaches Jong Uichico and Josh Reyes.
To follow from Manila in time for the World Cup are assistant coaches Norman Black, Ryan Gregorio and Nash Racela.
Reyes opted to rest the pool with the cancellation of their supposed two-game series versus a select group of NBA stars.
Most members of the pool are a little weary coming from their bronze-medal performance in the just-concluded fifth FIBA Asia Cup in Wuhan, China.
After their training in Miami, the Nationals swing over to Italy and France for nine games against tough international teams.
Reyes hopes those matches help them to be at their best in the World Cup where they play Argentina, Greece, Croatia, Puerto Rico and Senegal in Group B competition.
The goal is to beat Senegal and one from the four other teams to get a shot at the knockout stages. (SB)
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