The Beast’s social media post coincides with Gilas’ scheduled training for the Asian Games.
Signs point to Gilas Pilipinas veteran Calvin Abueva getting ready for a return to national team duty.
On Monday, the Magnolia Hotshots enforcer shared on social media two clips. One is showing an empty arena, which looks like the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
Gilas earlier announced that they would hold a practice in the same arena today, Monday, at 11:00 a.m.
Abueva’s second story seems to quell the questions, as it shows a no. 13 Gilas Pilipinas jersey. The San Sebastian product is also wearing the same number as part of Magnolia.
The presence of The Beast in Monday’s practice is surely a sign that he could be part of the squad that will represent the Asian Games, especially after coach Tim Cone admitted last Thursday that they don’t have time to create a pool and hold tryouts anymore. The Asian Games, which will be held in Hangzhou, China, is slated to start on the 23rd of September.
Cone faces the unenviable task of leading Gilas to the said tilt as he deals with a lot of moving parts. First off, the national team is just coming off the FIBA World Cup stint, which saw Chot Reyes step down from the head coaching position. Second, the World Cup cagers who play pro ball in Japan's B.League and in KBL will not be available for the Asian Games.
With Coach Tim left to inherit the helm, he has identified only four sure names for the team thus far. Those are Justin Brownlee, Scottie Thompson, Japeth Aguilar, and June Mar Fajardo.
While there are other clear-cut good candidates, like Justine Baltazar, Cone acknowledges that he has to go with players with more familiarity to the system he intends to implement for the Asiad.
That is not stopping Cone, however, from eyeing sure-fire players like Mikey Williams.
Expect the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas to name the Asian Games roster very soon.