Lalaban at lalaban pa rin.
This is a developing story.
Gilas Pilipinas is welcoming five new players as the chances of bringing Calvin Abueva, Jason Perkins, Terrence Romeo, and Mo Tautuaa to the Hangzhou Asian Games continue to get dim. The five new players are Chris Ross, Kevin Alas, Arvin Tolentino, Cjay Perez, and Marcio Lassiter.
In a press conference on Tuesday, Tim Cone bared that it's not only Abueva and Perkins who faced uncertainty in joining the squad, as Romeo and Tautuaa, apparently, are also not part of the newer list that was submitted to the Hangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee (HAGOC). This newer list is a 37-man pool, which is distinct from the 60-player list that was earlier disclosed.
Cone said that HAGOC has already communicated its denial of SBP's request for inclusion of players who weren't part of the list, but made it clear that they will still try to find new ways to get approval.
Ross, Alas, Tolentino, and Perez were tabbed as the replacements of Abueva, Perkins, Romeo, and Tautuaa. Cone and Gilas' team manager Alfrancis Chua both admitted how hard the conversation was with the four players who most likely won't be able to join the Asiad anymore.
Lassiter also had to be called up as a replacement to RR Pogoy, who is facing injury concerns.
The PBA and SBP brass maintained that they will not back out of the Asian Games despite the roster problems.