GILAS PILIPINAS : JAYSON CASTRO ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT FROM INTERNATIONAL PLAY

After Ranidel de Ocampo, another Gilas Pilipinas mainstay announced his retirement from international basketball after the Philippines' elimination in the 2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament here in Manila.

Back to back Asia's best point guard in the 2013 and 2015 FIBA Asia Championship and Gilas veteran playmaker Jayson Castro announced in his Instagram account that he will no longer suit up for Gilas Pilipinas :

The end of our bid for a spot at the Rio Olympics will also be the end of my stint as a member of Gilas Pilipinas. For the past few years, it has been my honor to represent all of you but now it's time to hand over the responsibility to the younger generation. Maraming salamat sa walang sawang pagsuporta niyo sa Gilas. Hindi ko makakalimutan lahat ng pinagsamahan natin. Ako si Jayson Castro William, taga Guagua, Pampanga, lumaban para sa bayan. #7 #PUSO

A photo posted by Jayson Castro (@jaywill_17) on Jul 7, 2016 at 7:05am PDT

Thank you very much Jayson Castro for all the sacrifices and hardwork. When Jimmy Alapag retired, it was definitely a big shoe to fill as point guard and leader of the team but you never disappointed us.

Salamat Jayson Castro for showing us what PUSO means!

GILAS PILIPINAS : HOW ANDRAY BLATCHE FEEL AFTER PHILIPPINES' ELIMINATION IN THE FIBA OQT

Philippine naturalized player Andrat Blatche posted on Instagram how he felt after the elimination of the Philippines in the FIBA Olympic Qualifier Tournament. He posted on his Instagram account :

Walking off this court was the hardest thing for me to do n a long time the love and support I have gotten here is more the enough flying back home jus don't feel rite

A photo posted by Andray Blatche (@draylive) on Jul 6, 2016 at 5:53pm PDT

Blatche has helped the Philippines in international competiotion since the 2014 FIBA World Cup and has obviously been very close to his teammates in Gilas Pilipinas.

To Andray, we really appreciate your help to the Gilas Pilipinas. You always give your all, truly you have the heart of a Filipino - PUSO!

GILAS PILIPINAS : PHILIPPINES ELIMINATED IN THE GROUP STAGE OF THE FIBA OLYMPIC QUALIFIER

After 2 tough losses in as many days, the Philippine national basketball team - the Gilas Pilipinas has been eliminated from the 2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament being held held in Manila. The team dropped its two assignments in the group stage, ending winless and being eliminated.

World no. 28 ranked Gilas Pilipinas first took on no. 5 France Les Blues, which is led by no less than NBA star Tony Parker. After leading in the first quarter and majority of the 2nd quarter, the more experienced Frech team took the lead at the half and never looked back. Gilas threatened to come back in the 4th quarter, cutting the lead down from 13 to as low as 4 points. But the French team protected the lead and won with a score of 80 - 89.

Yesterday, Gilas went against the world no. 21 New Zealand Tall Blacks. The Kiwis was definitely on its A game and followed their game plan, limiting our naturalized player Andray Blatche to only 4 points in the first half. The Tall Blacks almost led all game long but again, the last quarter surge of the Philippines after curring the lead from 13 down to 5, fell short and eventually bowed down to the Kiwis with a score of 93 - 84.

The loss ended the hopes of the Gilas Pilipinas to qualify to the Olympics.

This might also be the last we see of some of the players wearing the Pilipinas jersey. Rumors has it that players like Jayson Castro, Ranidel de Ocampo and Jeff Chan are planning to give way to younger players to be part of the national team. As of the writing, it is only RDO who has confirmed that he is indeed retiring from the national team with this post from his Twitter account :

I officially announce my goodbye of playing in Gilas Pilipinas Basketball! #PUSO

— Ranidel De Ocampo (@jutaca33) July 6, 2016

Despite the loss, Gilas is undoubtedly the most successful national team in the past 20 years. Theyw ere able to reach the World Cup in 2014 and win back to back silvers in the 2013 and 2015 FIBA Asia Championships.

Eventhough we lost, let the lessons from these games make us stringer and better. Bounce back Gilas. Focus next on the 2019 FIBA World Cup qualifier where teams will be playing home and away games. With names such as Terence Romeo, Rayray Parks, June Mar Fajardo, Kobe Paras and Jordan Clarkson still willing to don the country's jersey, the future is still bright.

Heads up, Gilas Pilipinas! You still made us proud! Laban Pilipinas!

GILAS PILIPINAS : FINAL "FIGHTING 12" FOR THE FIBA OQT ANNOUNCED

The final "Fighting 12" of Gilas Pilipinas that will represent the country in the FIBA Olympic Qualifier in Manila was announced live tonight. The team was seen live from Italy where the team is participating in the pocket tournament as a build up for the FIBA OQT.

The announcement was made before the team's game against China for the tournament's 3rd place after both teams suffered losses in their first games against Italy and Canada.

The final 12 players that will carry the Pilipinas jersey as part of Gilas 4.0 are as follows (as announced by Jimmy Alapag during the live telecast of Sports 5) :

• Andray Blatche
• Jayson Castro
• June Mar Fajardo
• Gabe Norwood
• Japhet Aguilar
• Ranidel de Ocampo
• Terrence Romeo
• Marc Pingris
• Jeff Chan
• Bobby Ray Parks, Jr.
• Ryan Reyes
• Troy Rosario

Here are the final 12 players as posted in the TV5 official Twitter page :

#Gilas12 IS IN! 🇵🇭 pic.twitter.com/p8lOMrpFIJ

— TV5 (@TV5manila) June 26, 2016

The last 2 players cut from the line up are LA Tenorio and Calvin Abueva, Salute to all these guys, whether they are in or out, for sacrificing for the country.

Hoping that these 12 guys will take us to our goal - which is the slot in the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Laban Pilipinas! 

GILAS PILIPINAS : FINAL 12 TO BE REVEALED ON JUNE 26

In this post in the Facebook page of Sports5, the final 12 who will make it to the roster for the FIBA Olympic Qualifier will be revealed live on June 26 at 6pm!

As of now, the team is in (or is still travelling to) Italy for a pocket tournament as part of the preparation for the OQT. There is still 14 players in the pool and the last 2 players will be cut by Saturday. Who ever makes it, Gilas 4.0 will definitely be a good team and will give the other teams a run for that slot for the Rio Olympics.

NEW GILAS PROMO VIDEO FOR THE FIBA OQT

Sports 5 posted on the Kuwentong Gilas Facebook page a new promo video of the Gilas Pilipinas national team for the FIBA Olympic Qualifier. The short video shows all 14 players in the pool and was shot while they are in Greece for the training camp.

Here is the video :

It was really nice to see Andray Blatche there in the mix saying he will fight for the Philippines!

I can't wait to know who will make the final 12 and watch these guys on July 5 here in Manila!

GILAS PILIPINAS : "TURIN 14" NAMED, TEAM OFF TO EUROPE FOR TRAINING

The Gilas Pilipinas line up was cut down to 14 players after the team won its Iran tune up game last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, 81-70.

After the game, coach Tab Baldwin said in the post game interview that the management will still discuss the final 14 members since the game made the coaching staff to rethink some of their choices.

I personally think that it was Ryan Reyes' performance that made an impression last night, considering that both perimeter shooters Jeff Chan and Marcio Lassiter are still recuperating from an injury or an illness.

A couple of hours after the press conference, it was team manager Butch Antonio who announced the final 14 players who remains in the Gilas Pilipinas pool. The 14 players are:

The 14 joining the Gilas camp: Jayson RDO Troy Ryan Gabe Jeff Junemar Ping Calvin Japeth LA RayRay Andray Terrence#LabanPilipinas #PUSO

— Butch Antonio (@BAAntonio) June 8, 2016

Gilas Final 14 #LabanPilipinas #Puso pic.twitter.com/VhrwZi8M8B

— FOX Sports PH (@FOXSports_PH) June 8, 2016

These players will go to a 3 week training camp in Europe - specifically in Germany and will join a pocket tournament in Turin, Italy. The final 12 is expected to be announced when they come back to the Philippines on June 28. They will have their last tune up game against Turkey on July1 before the start of the FIBA Olympic Qualifier on July 5.

GILAS PILIPINAS : NIKE LAUNCHES NEW KITS FOR THE FIBA OQT

Sportswear global giant Nike launched the new kits that will be used by our very own Gilas Pilipinas national basketball team in the 2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament here in Manila on July.

In an event in the newly opened Shangri-La Hotel in Bonifacio Global City, the launch started with a brief chat with Fil-Am NBA player Jordan Clarkson. Unfortunately, he will not be joining the squad in the OQT since FIBA has not yet given him the go signal due to his eligibility.

Most of the players in the current pool was there during the launch - LA Tenorio, Mo Tautua, Ranidel de Ocampo, Ray Ray Parks, Marc Pingris, June Mar Fajardo, Terrence Romeo and naturalized center Andray Blatche, who just arrived in Manila early Saturday morning after 2 weeks of personal leave due to the surgery of his mother.

The new kits were paraded by 5 other players in the Gilas 4.0 pool - Jeff Chan, Jayson Castro, Gabe Norwood, Calvin Abueva and Japeth Aguilar. You can see them in the photo below from the Sports5 Twitter :

LOOK | New Gilas Pilipinas uniform unveiled https://t.co/I5253qiLAb pic.twitter.com/XunfKhacSw

— Sports5 (@Sports5PH) May 28, 2016

Here is the video of the launch from Sports5 Facebook page :

GILAS PILIPINAS : PAUL LEE IS OUT OF THE GILAS POOL FOR THE FIBA OQT

Rain or Shine guard Paul Lee confirmed this morning that he is out of the Gilas pool for the FIBA Olympic Qualifier in Manila.

Fresh from the successful championship run in the Commissioner's Cup in the PBA, Lee together with teammates Jeff Chan and Gabe Norwood are back in the Gilas training after being excused due to the championship and a 5 day break after the finals series.

Lee was part of the Gilas 2.0 team that competed in the 2014 FIBA World Cup in Spain.

Before the practice, Lee spoke with Coach Tab Baldwin about his knee injury.

Sad to report that injuries to Paul Lee has forced him to withdraw from Gilas pool. Said knee has hurt since Finals pic.twitter.com/qOg1kjYOnR

— Carlos Araneta (@chuck_araneta) May 24, 2016

According to the reports, the knee injury has been a concern even during the PBA championship series. He needed to drain fluids and was given limited minutes to manage the problem. Even with the injury, he managed to get the Finals MVP award.

Paul Lee, who is nicknamed as the Angas ng Tondo, is already the third player to withdraw from the pool due to injuries. Greg Slaughter and Matt Ganuelas Rosser also had to withdraw due to injuries. In this morning's practice, Jeff Chan only watched in the sidelines, also due to injury.

With Paul Lee gone, the guard post slots will be contested by LA Tenorio, Jason Castro, Jeff Chan , Terrence Romeo, Keifer Ravena and Marcio Lassiter, who also returned to the triaing pool today.

Image is from Chuck Araneta's Twitter page.