Reyes adds four players to Gilas Pilipinas pool

MANILA, Philippines – Four more players will carry ‘Pilipinas‘ on their chests.

In a tweet sent by Gilas Pilipinas head coach Vincent ‘Chot’ Reyes on Friday, February 28, the mentor announced the 17 names that will be part of the training pool.

Jim, Jason, LA, Paul, Gary, Larry, Jeff, Marcio, Gabe, JD, Del, Ping, Beau, Japeth, Junemar, Greg, Marcus #LabanPilipinas !!!

— Chot Reyes (@coachot) February 28, 2014

The 12 players from the silver-medal winning 2013 FIBA Asia Championship roster are all part of the list: Jimmy Alapag, Jayson Castro, LA Tenorio, Gary David, Larry Fonacier, Jeff Chan, Gabe Norwood, Marc Pingris, Ranidel de Ocampo, Japeth Aguilar, June Mar Fajardo, and Marcus Douthit.

Beau Belga, who was cut from the roster prior to the FIBA Asia wars is also included in the list.

Joining them according to Reyes’ tweet are Rain or Shine’s Paul Lee, who had a sensational PBA Philippine Cup finals stint, No. 1 PBA 2014 overall pick Greg Slaughter of Brgy. Ginebra San Miguel, Smart Gilas I gunner Marcio Lassiter of the San Miguel Beermen, and Jared Dillinger of the Meralco Bolts, who is part of Gilas 2’s training pool before suffering a hip injury due to a car accident.

It is a privilege and an honor to represent the Philippines. I'll use every ounce of heart + soul I have inside me on that court. Thank you

— Jared Dillinger (@JDHawaii20) February 28, 2014

Naturalization candidate Andray Blatche of the Brooklyn Nets meanwhile, may be added to the pool should his naturalization papers be approved by the government.

Gilas Pilipinas won 1st-runner up in the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship in Manila last August 1-11, bagging a slot in the FIBA World Cup of Basketball slated from August 30 to September 14, 2014. READ: 40 minutes to eternity: How Gilas stopped Korea

Earlier this month in the official draw, Philippines landed in Group B with Senegal, Puerto Rico, Argentina, Greece, and Croatia. READ: Chot Reyes on FIBA Group B: ‘It is a tough group’

Group B will play in Seville, Spain. – Rappler.com