Chot Reyes names 15-man preliminary roster

Gilas Pilipinas head coach Chot Reyes has named the preliminary roster for the FIBA World Cup qualifiers next month.

The players Reyes named are: Jayson Castro, Kiefer Ravena, Kevin Alas, Jio Jalalon, RR Pogoy, Matthew Wright, Allein Maliksi, Gabe Norwood, Calvin Abueva, Carl Bryan Cruz, Mac Belo, Troy Rosario, Raymond Almazan, Japeth Aguilar and June Mar Fajardo.

Eleven out of the aforementioned names played in the first qualifying window in November, when Gilas topped Japan in Tokyo and Chinese-Taipei at Araneta Coliseum.

Only Almazan, Belo, Cruz and Jalalon, who was nursing a knee injury, didn't make the final cut.

The team begins practice on Monday.

The next phase of the years-long qualifiers will be tougher for Gilas, which will travel to Melbourne to take on reigning Asian champion Australia on February 22 then return home to battle Japan on February 25.

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