MANILA, Philippines — 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.
