With less than a week to go, Team Gilas is ramping up their training for the upcoming two-game home stand against New Zealand and Hong Kong.
It's back to the grind for Gilas Pilipinas.
June Mar Fajardo, Scottie Thompson, Kevin Quiambao, and Dwight Ramos were part of the 13 players present in the first day of the Gilas Men’s preparation for the upcoming FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers second window.
Fresh from their Governors’ Cup Finals face-off, Japeth Aguilar and Calvin Oftana also joined the fray alongside CJay Perez, Chris Newsome, and Mason Amos at the Inspire Academy, Laguna on Friday, November 15.
Also in the preparations is injured Ginebra winger Jamie Malonzo, who was earlier ruled out of the tournament as he was still recovering from a calf injury.
[ALSO READ: No Jamie Malonzo yet for Gilas Pilipinas in FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers]
Japan B. League’s big men in Kai Sotto and AJ Edu are also in town, but their availability for the second window is in limbo as the two are yet to be fully healthy.
Sotto is still waiting to get medical clearance after being placed in the concussion protocol in the Koshigaya Alpha’s 80-72 victory against his former team Yokohama B-Corsairs last November 9.
[ALSO READ: Kai Sotto diagnosed with concussion from Koshigaya's win vs Yokohama]
However, Gilas Pilipinas team manager Richard del Rosario bared that the 22-year-old big man is on pace to be medically cleared with just six days away from their first match against New Zealand.
The Nationals will then lock horns anew against Hong Kong on November 24, who they crushed in their first window encounter last February.
Edu’s status will also depend on how he recovers from the knee injury he sustained in the Nagasaki Velca’s close 71-68 loss against the Akita Northern Happinets last November 9.
[ALSO READ: Tim Cone admits to feeling upset as AJ Edu suffers knee injury ahead of FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers]
Expected to join tomorrow are Justin Brownlee and Carl Tamayo as the Nationals will stay in the Laguna until November 18.