Philippines announce OQT roster

MANILA (2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments) - Philippines head coach Tab Baldwin has decided on his final 12-man roster for the 2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) in Manila. 

The national team boss has included as much size as possible while parading some of the country’s most promising young talents.

The leaders Gilas Pilipinas will be veterans like naturalized player Andray Blatche, Jayson Castro, Gabe Norwood and Ranidel de Ocampo.

Philippines 12-player roster for 2016 FIBA OQT in Manila
Japeth Aguilar	Andray Blatche	Jayson Castro	Jeff Chan
Ranidel de Ocampo	June Mar Fajardo	Gabe Norwood	Bobby Ray Parks, Jr.
Marc Pingris	Ryan Reyes	Terrence Romeo	Troy Rosario

June Mar Fajardo, who played at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup but did not feature at last year's FIBA Asia Championship, is back in the team and at 2.08m in height is one of the team's biggest players. The versatile Blatche is 2.11m.

The up-and-comers that will gain valuable experience at the world level are former FIBA 3x3 star Terrence Romeo and products of the country's youth national team pool, Bobby Ray Parks, Jr. and Troy Rosario.

Romeo, 24, has already played an important role for the national team in an important tournament. He averaged more than 12 points per game at last year's continental tournament in Changsha-Hunan as the Philippines finished runners-up to hosts China.

Veteran playmaker LA Tenorio, who played for Gilas at Spain 2014, and Calvin Abueva, a combative presence at the the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship, have not made the team.

Baldwin commended both players for their dedication to the national cause and thanked them for their efforts.

Chot Reyes, who coached Gilas at the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship and the following year's World Cup, knows how difficult it can be to come up with a final squad. He empathized with Baldwin.

If the Philippines win the OQT, they will play in an Olympics for the first time since 1972.

FIBA