Gilas Pilipinas is down one big man as Carl Tamayo begged off from the national team pool for the FIBA 2023 World Cup, head coach Chot Reyes confirmed after the team’s practice on Monday, June 12, at the Meralco Gym.

Carl Tamayo begs off from Gilas Pilipinas pool due to a knee injury (FIBA Photo)

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According to Reyes, Tamayo already informed the team about his decision and cited a procedure that is needed to be done on his knee as the reason why he cannot make it to the team’s preparations for the global meet set in August.

“I think today we already got word that Carl Tamayo is going to drop, he's going to beg off because he doesn't think he's going to be fully healthy to go through the entire process and we respect that,” revealed Reyes.

Although the injury seemed to be nothing serious, it would take time for the 6-foot-8 forward to return to his tip top shape.

“His MRI did not show any significant injury but I think he needs to get some work done on his knee. I think he needs to get some TRP next week, and then he's going to take another week pa before he'll be strong enough to workout. By that time he'll be too late na for Lithuania,” added Reyes.

With the absence of Tamayo, Gilas was now left with 20 players in the pool with guys like World Cup veterans Japeth Aguilar and June Mar Fajardo, young bigs in Kai Sotto, AJ Edu and even TNT big man Poy Erram expected to fill the void. 

As to whether there will be a replacement for Tamayo in the pool, Reyes said the team can always add names into the pool although that will be unlikely right now considering that the team is already preparing for the European trip next week.

“There's no hard and fast number for the pool, we can always add guys or subtract guys from the pool but the question is, right now we're preparing for Lithuania so I don't think there's enough time to get somebody in, to get his visa and all of that for Lithuania,” rued Reyes.

“But that's why we have a pool precisely because of all these things.”