It appears that coach Chot Reyes has his lineup in mind after 13 players entered the bubble ahead of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers which starts this week at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
NorthPort star Robert Bolick and TNT players Poy Erram, Kelly Williams, Gab Banal and Kib Montalbo lead the group which is now inside Novotel Manila where all four teams will stay for the duration of the qualifiers set Feb. 24 to 28.
Also in the bubble are B.League players Thirdy Ravena and Dwight Ramos, naturalized player Ange Kouame, Juan Gomez de Liano, Will Navarro, Jaydee Tungcab, Tzaddy Rangel and LeBron Lopez.
Reyes and assistants Jong Uichico, Josh Reyes, Marc Pingris and Nenad Vucinic and team official Yvette Ruiz joined the players in a group photo as per a video posted by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas on its social media Monday, Feb. 21.
Gilas players and coaches took part in a photoshoot which is customary before any FIBA event.
It’s still uncertain if prominent TNT players like Jayson Castro, Troy Rosario and RR Pogoy will join the bubble or if they are already out of consideration.
Of the three, Pogoy is dealing with a calf injury which he sustained during practice almost two weeks ago.
Gilas will open its campaign on the 24th against rival South Korea before facing India the following day.
Following a one-day rest, the national cagers face New Zealand on the 27th before wrapping up the window with another match with South Korea on the 28th.