It's Official: Matthew Wright Out of Gilas Pool to Rehab Ankle Injury

As time's winding down quickly for Gilas Pilipinas with the nationals preparing for the first window of the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers, it seems that bad news can't leave them alone. 

The team already lost 2 big men from the original 24-man pool that SBP initially assembled last month and now, one of PBA's best shooters from the three-point line wont shoot the lights out on February 20 against Thailand and, on February 23 against Indonesia as Matthew Wright has officially begged off from the training pool.

While there were reports that Wright begged due to conflicts in his schedule, Tab Baldwin, Gilas Pilipinas program director and a member of Mark Dickel's coaching staff for the February window, said that Wright's begging off from the team is due to an ankle injury which #35 wants to undergo rehabilitate for. That's what Wright told Baldwin when the former showed up for the team practice for the first time since missing the first 5 practices. Wright mentioned that he wanted to help but his injury is saying otherwise. With Wright officially off the team, this poses a major hole for Gilas Pilipinas.

While the likes of Justin Chua, Vic Manuel, Abu Tratter, and Javee Mocon invited to the pool would provide the added muscle down low, Gilas will miss the sharpshooting skills of Matthew Wright.

Simply put, Matthew Wright's ability to score from the three-point line forces defenders to go after him and leaves the big men inside free to roam around. While there are still a ton of talented three-point shooters that Gilas can call upon from the PBA and the amateur ranks, the game against Thailand is just a week away and while Gilas can still make changes in the pool, it can disrupt the chemistry among players who are already in the pool.

Not only that, Justine Baltazar and Ray Parks are yet to report for team practice with the latter being the most likely to miss the February window as he is still in the process of finalizing his PBA plans. Baltazar is reported to be wanting to help but Gilas hasn't heard from the La Salle big man. Yet.

Now the question is: Who will replace Matthew Wright?

Answer: the pool has some great shooters from deep. It's just a matter of choosing who will fit the most in Dickel's game plan.  

Photo is from Rappler