Smart-Gilas announces roster for Dubai

MANILA, Philipines – Smart-Gilas Pilipinas head coach Chot Reyes has picked his men for the Philippines national basketball team’s next tournament in Dubai.

This is the complete roster for the tournament in January:

• Point guards – Garvo Lanete, RR Garcia, Justin Melton
• Shooting guards – Ronjay Buenafe, Ronald Pascual, Kevin Alas
• Shooting forwards – Matt Ganuela, KG Canaleta
• Power forwards – JR Reyes, Jake Pascual
• Centers – Marcus Douthit, Greg Slaughter

Reyes said he would reserve 2 slots for center Isaac Holstein and power forward Japeth Aguilar.

Dubai roster: Marcus, JR,KG,Ronjay,Matt,Garvo,Greg,RR,Kevin,Ronald,Jake,Justin. 2 slots reserved for @japethaguilar35 and/or Isaac Holstein

— Chot Reyes (@coachot) December 24, 2012

The only holdovers from the Gilas team that competed in the 2012 Jones Cup and the FIBA Asia Cup are Jay-R Reyes, Matt Ganuelas Rosser, and Garvo Lanete.

The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) only allowed players from teams already out of contention in the ongoing Philippine Cup.

Former Gilas members that are still playing in the PBA playoffs are Rain or Shine’s Gabe Norwood and Jeffrei Chan, Talk ‘N Text’s Jared Dillinger, Ranidel De Ocampo, and Larry Fonacier, and Alaska Aces’ Larry Fonacier.

Ginebra’s LA Tenorio and Global Port’s Gary David opted out of the team to rest minor injuries. Barako Bull’s Enrico Villanueva suffered an ACL injury during the elimination round of the All-Filipino conference. – Rappler.com