Vic Manuel is having second thoughts on whether to join Gilas Pilipinas’ preparation for the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers or use the extra time to make up for sleepless hours while taking care of his newborn child.
Gilas Pilipinas' Vic Manuel drives past Thai defenders (MB Photo / Rio Leonelle Deluvio / Canon 1DX Mark II with 70-200mm f2.8 lens)
Manuel has yet to attend Gilas’ training sessions after her wife gave birth to a daughter named Ivanna last week and the muscular Alaska forward admitted that he’s having a dilemma if he’ll heed the call of possibly suiting up in Sunday’s match against Indonesia in Jakarta.
“Parang tinatantiya ko pa yung katawan ko kung ano talaga mangyayari,” Manuel said after the Aces’ 98-87 win over the Phoenix Pulse Fuel Masters in Monday’s tune-up match at the Upper Deck Sports Center in Ortigas.
“Nakakahiya na rin sa kanila na di na sila makapag-antay. Parang yung katawan ko medyo pagod lagi so yun kailangan ko din magpahinga.”
The 32-year-old was among the late additions to the 24-man pool after the likes of Japeth Aguilar, Christian Standhardinger, Matthew Wright and Mac Belo pulled out due to injuries and personal reasons.
Having Manuel could give Gilas the inside presence it needed in order to beat the Indonesians in the game that will proceed barring a last-minute decision because of the novel coronavirus.
Gilas was supposed to host Thailand on Thursday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum but was rescheduled on a later date as a preventive measure against the virus.
Manuel does participate in Alaska’s training and tune-up matches, posting 25 points and nine rebounds against Phoenix in the first day of a four-team mini-tournament also participated by San Miguel Beer and NLEX.
NLEX defeated SMB 103-97 in Monday’s other game.
The Alaska duties are also making it hard for Manuel to commit given the little rest and the huge responsibility of fatherhood.
“Siguro pag nakabawi na katawan ko,” he said.