Chot hopes Brownlee, ‘home’ edge will negate Kai opt-out, Japeth injury

Gilas Pilipinas will sorely miss Japeth Aguilar’s ability to defend shots around the rim. —FIBA BASKETBALL

Gilas Pilipinas lost a lot of rim protection for upcoming games against red-hot Lebanon and vengeful Jordan in the sixth and final window of the Fiba World Cup Asian Qualifiers next week, due to the absences of young center Kai Sotto and grizzled veteran Japeth Aguilar.

The most national coach Chot Reyes can hope for is that the addition of Justin Brownlee plus the advantages of playing at home will even things out.

“The silver lining is we are going to finally see Justin Brownlee play with us and see how it goes,” Reyes told the Inquirer late Monday night, shortly after he confirmed the two big men’s absence.

“That and the fact that we’re playing at home in front of the home crowd. We’re still hopeful,” he added. “We’re counting on the home-court advantage really coming through and giving us an edge.”

Sotto has categorically opted out from suiting up in the last Fiba window, while Aguilar will need about three more weeks to recover from a right knee sprain, pretty much reducing Reyes’ options for big men to just San Miguel Beer’s June Mar Fajardo, Meralco’s Raymond Almazan, 18-year-old Ateneo-commit Mason Amos, and new pool addition Kelly Williams, the 41-year-old veteran who has had several stints with the national squad.

Even the national program’s Plan Bs are unavailable: Poy Erram is still undergoing knee rehabilitation and Ange Kouame is ineligible because the naturalized player slot is set to be filled by Brownlee, the beloved Ginebra import. Also unavailable for this window is 6-foot-8 Carl Tamayo, who is still settling down with his pro club in Japan. “He was supposed to be here, but he’s not. I don’t know what his plan is and if he’s even going to be available,” Reyes said of the former UP star.

Tamayo’s B.League team Ryukyu Golden Kings announced that it will hold an introductory press conference on Wednesday.

Mum on decision

Meanwhile, Sotto’s camp has been mum on his decision to skip this tour of duty. East West Private, one of the firms handling the young cager, has yet to respond to the Inquirer’s request for comments.

Almazan, who was shelved during the fifth window, is also far from a lock for a roster spot. Reyes noted that the Bolts have Philippine Basketball Association games on Feb. 23, on the eve of the Nationals’ match against the dangerous Cedars; and then Feb. 26, right after the Gilas’ clash with the tall Falcons.

If it’s any consolation, the Japan-based standouts have begun to arrive in the country. First to do so was Kiefer Ravena, who was already drenched in sweat before training got going at Meralco Gym on Monday night.

Ravena’s younger brother Thirdy, Ray Parks Jr., Dwight Ramos, and Jordan Heading are expected to arrive within the week, just in time for when Gilas adds more days to their training schedule.

Reyes said that they will be holding sessions on Thursday and Saturday to allow the players from Japan to catch up.

“Hopefully, on the 20th,” he said of the start of daily practices. “That gives us a grand total of three days before [we plunge] into the first game,” he said.

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