GILAS STILL LOADED MINUS KELLY, JARED
Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes isn’t about to push the panic button with his pool of players for the coming FIBA Asia Championship slashed from 17 down to 15 on the sad fates of Kelly Williams and Jared Dillinger.
“While we never predicted the Kelly Williams and Jared Dillinger events to happen, we planned for attrition. That’s why we picked 17,” said Reyes, pointing out all positions in the lineup are still loaded.
On a suggestion by his Twitter follower to take in Arwind Santos, Reyes said: “At 6-foot-7, Kelly Williams plays the big forward spot who can back up as center. Jared Dillinger is a slasher who can play back-up point guard. Neither of which Arwind Santos is.”
Dillinger has been declared out for the rest of the current PBA season and out of the FIBA Asia Championship in August due to a pelvic bone injury he suffered in a car accident he met early Saturday morning.
Earlier, Williams, a key member of the Phl team that placed fourth in the last FIBA Asia joust, took an indefinite leave due to an old ailment.
Minus the two, the Gilas pool is down to 15 men, namely Jayson Castro, Jimmy Alapag, Ranidel de Ocampo, Larry Fonacier, Ryan Reyes, Gary David, Japeth Aguilar, LA Tenorio, Marc Pingris, Junmar Fajardo, Sonny Thoss, Jeff Chan, Gabe Norwood, Greg Slaughter and Marcus Douthit.
The team plays its first game since its formation last February as it tangles with the PBA selection in the PBA All-Star Game in Digos, Davao del Sur Sunday.
The following day, some members of the pool, reinforced by Gilas cadet players, take on the visiting Shanghai Sharks in a goodwill game at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
Out of the Gilas lineup against the Sharks are those playing in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals. The team starts full training for the Asian joust only at the close of the mid-season tourney.
Dillinger is out as he’s to undergo a procedure to realign his pelvis and stabilize the fracture with metal plates and screws.
According to Talk n Text team manager Aboy Castro, Dillinger will not be ambulatory for 6-12 weeks to allow the bone to heal. Then he will start the long rehabilitation process to allow him to come back and play at the highest level of professional basketball.
“The whole process will take anywhere between 3-6 months depending on how Jared’s body responds to the operation and the rehab,” said Castro.
According to a statement released by Talk n Text, Dillinger figured in a vehicular accident along the South Superhighway on his way home. He was alone in his SUV and no one else was injured and no property was damaged.
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