Coach Chot Reyes still has a couple of days before they announce Gilas Pilipinas’ final roster for the FIBA World Cup.
But three former Gilas stalwarts, who attended the Manila stop of the Naismith Trophy Tour on Sunday, bared their choice of players among the current crop of players in the national team pool.
With the exception of former NBA Sixth Man Jordan Clarkson, who is already shooed in for the Final 12, ex-national team members Larry Fonacier, Gary David, and Jeff Chan listed three of their best bets among the present-day Gilas.
“I’m excited to see Kai Sotto,” said the “Baby Faced Assassin” Fonacier. “Game changer kasi natin ‘yan,” he said of the 7-foot-3 Filipino wunderkind.
He added that June Mar Fajardo and CJ Perez also made improvements in their games during the past months of training with Gilas.
“Si June Mar improved vastly, and CJ Perez kasi he transitioned to be a great point guard and shooting guard as well.”
David, who is known as one of the PBA’s top scorers during his peak, shared Fonacier’s sentiments on Perez and Fajardo.
“Si CJ Perez, iba ang energy level ‘pag pumasok siya… Si June Mar the ‘Kraken,’ malaking bagay. Maganda ang katawan na pang matchup,” he said.
But David added one more player to the list: “Si Dwight Ramos, okay din ‘yan.”
Chan, one of the best gunners from Bacolod, admired Ramos’ consistency on the court.
“Si Dwight Ramos isa sa mga pinaka-consistent player,” he said. “Hopefully sa World Cup maging consistent din siya.”
But Chan made it a point to mention the current PBA Most Valuable Player.
“Si Scottie (Thompson), the reigning MVP. Alam mo naman si Scottie all around player and 100 percent every time,” said Chan of the talented Ginebra shooting guard, who recuperated from a metacarpal injury.
“Talagang never say die ‘yan.”
