TNT gunner Jordan Heading and Phoenix forward Jason Perkins have dropped out of the Gilas Pilipinas training pool for the Asian Games.
Gilas assistant coach Richard del Rosario confirmed that the two Fil-foreign players are no longer part of the pool to The Manila Times.
“Yes, that is confirmed,” Del Rosario said. “Injury and family matters.”
Tropang 5G team manager Jojo Lastimosa said the left-handed Fil-Aussie guard’s wife is “giving birth anytime now,” thus, begging off with Gilas.
But Lastimosa added that TNT big man Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser remains part of the Gilas side, which is preparing to defend its Asian Games men’s basketball crown in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan beginning on Sept. 11 where the Filipinos take on Bahrain.
The 33-year-old Perkins averaged 11 points and five rebounds through six games in the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup, but has been dealing with a foot injury before the tournament headed to a seven-week break to give way to Gilas.
Heading and Perkins were part of all-PBA Gilas training pool.
Other PBA players fighting for the final 12 include NLEX do-it-all guard Robert Bolick, Magnolia big man Zav Lucero, Converge’s Justin Arana, Adrian Nocum and Caelan Tiongson of Rain or Shine, San Miguel Beer shooters Jerrick Ahanmisi and Don Trollano, as well as Meralco’s Brandon Bates.
Del Rosario admitted he has been seeing a lot of positive energy in practice as the training pool prepares for the Asiad.
“Everyone has been very cooperative and excited at the same time,” Del Rosario said. “It has been going well.”
Gilas head coach Tim Cone is leaning on an all-PBA national squad as it defends its Asian Games men’s basketball crown in the Land of the Rising Sun.
The American coach has been focusing his time and effort with the other Gilas side that’s preparing for the FIBA World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers second round.
The Philippines will be facing Jordan this Friday, Aug. 28, followed by Iran on Sunday, Aug. 30 with both matches to be held at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Regular members of the Gilas side led by Dwight Ramos, Carl Tamayo, Kevin Quiambao and AJ Edu, will be leading the way, along with naturalized player Justin Brownlee, granting he is healthy.
But Ramos and Co. won’t be available for the Asiad due to their commitments to their respective Japanese and Korean pro ball clubs, while Quentin Millora-Brown and Mike Phillips will also be out due to health and personal reasons.
Del Rosario said they spent the past week teaching the players the Gilas system.
“Working on introducing the offensive system and defensive principles,” he said.
