TIM Cone has confirmed that several PBA standouts will join Gilas Pilipinas for the upcoming Asian Games, with Justin Baltazar, RJ Abarrientos and Justin Arana set to be part of the squad.
Cone said Arana has already been working with the Asian Games team, even before being pulled back to the FIBA World Cup qualifying squad after Carl Tamayo’s injury.
“Justin and Balti are part the team. RJ is also on the Asian Games team,” Cone said.
Arana initially started with the FIBA window squad before being moved to the Asian Games group. He later returned to the window when Tamayo went down with an ankle injury.
But Cone said Arana had already been regularly practicing with the Asian Games team.
“He’s been practicing regularly with the Asian Games team,” Cone said.
Meanwhile, Baltazar and Abarrientos are only set to begin their Asian Games preparations on Tuesday before the team heads to Korea for tune-up games.
“Balti and RJ have not. They’ll start practice on Tuesday and we’ll go with them to Korea,” Cone added.
The Asian Games squad will now begin building chemistry as the Philippines prepares to defend its gold medal in the continental competition. (Jesus Nathaniel Valdez)
