More Reinforcements Coming In; Tratter and Manuel Invited to Gilas Pool

A national team to be just under two weeks away from playing in a qualifying tournament who is being pestered by withdrawals of key players, yes, that is the current state of Gilas Pilipinas right now. 

Since the SBP announced who will make up the 24-man pool for the first window of the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers last month, multiple players have begged off from the pool due to various reasons. Some are still recovering from their nagging injuries and aren't going to be healthy enough when the games come around on the 20th and the 23rd. of this month. One begged off to go on an extended honeymoon with his longtime partner and one has conflicts on his schedules. One has yet to decide on his PBA future so there's a high probability that he won't be suiting either. At least for the February games.

Fortunately, reinforcement is starting to come in.

Yesterday, Justin Chua of the Phoenix Pulse Fuel Masters was already announced as the replacement for fellow Atenean, Japeth Aguilar. 

Abu Tratter and Vic Manuel, big men from the Alaska Aces, are invited to the training pool that is coached by Mark Dickel.

Both Manuel and Tratter aren't strangers to the national as Vic Manuel last played for Gilas Pilipinas under Coach Tim Cone in the 30th SEA Games where the nationals wreaked havoc against their Asian neighbors en route to yet another gold medal for the Philippine basketball team. In fact, the Muscle Man averaged 15 points and 4 rebounds per game during his run with Gilas- making him one of the key players in that success. 

Tratter, on the other hand, was last part of the training pool of Gilas Pilipinas when it was still preparing for the second window of the 2019 FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers in 2018 when the coach of the team was still Chot Reyes. Incidentally, Tratter is also included in Reyes' "23 for 23" list of players who could represent the country when it hosts the 2023 FIBA World Cup. 

With just under two weeks to go before the game against Thailand on the 20th, the inclusion of both Manuel and Tratter couldn't come at a better time because of the fact they both know the responsibilities as national team players and that, Vic Manuel has already proven himself in front of the home crowd. For Tratter especially if he makes it to the final 12, it would be a good learning experience.

Photo is from Rappler