BOLTS ADD GILAS CADETS IN JAPAN GAMES
With their Fil-Am players out on vacation or injury, the Meralco Bolts will be forced to tap players from the Gilas Pilipinas cadet pool when they play against candidates of Japan’s national team in Sendai, Japan.
Meralco team manager Butch Antonio told pba.ph that the Bolts, along with some of the members of the cadet team composed of Kevin Alas, Garvo Lanete, and Jake Pascual among others, will leave the country on June 27 to go up against the Japanese in a fundraising event for the benefit of the tsunami victims.
“Wala pa yung mga Fil-Ams dahil nakabakasyon pa. Sa July 15 pa kasi talaga ang start ng ensayo namin so we need to reinforce the team with cadet players,” said Antonio.
Cliff Hodge, the rookie Fil-Am, is still on vacation, likewise Chris Ross, who attended the wedding of Gabe Norwood in the US. Jared Dillinger is still recuperating from an injury he suffered in a car accident.
The friendly event was made possible by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, which was contacted by Japan’s basketball federation, inviting the Philippines to send its national squad to play in a benefit game.
The Japan exhibition game was first offered to the Gilas Pilipinas five, which was looking to play in a tournament following its non-inclusion in the William Jones Cup in Taipei where the Filipinos are the reigning champions.
Instead, it was the Bolts who decided to go there after Gilas management learned that they will play only the national team candidates.
Gilas is now trying to finalize a trip to New Zealand where they have a chance to play its crack national squad. (RJ)
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