Gilas Pilipinas coach announces ‘SEABA 12’

In a public announcement Friday night at the Quezon Convention Center right after the PBA All-Star Game, Reyes named Alaska’s Calvin Abueva, Ginebra’s Japeth Aguilar, Rain or Shine’s Raymond Almazan, Xinjiang’s Andray Blatche, TNT’s Jayson Castro, RR Pogoy, and Troy Rosario, San Miguel’s Junemar Fajardo, Star’s Jio Jalalon and Allein Maliksi, GlobalPort’s Terrence Romeo, and Phoenix’s Matt Wright to the roster that will vie for the lone Southeast Asian spot in the FIBA Asia Cup. (Photo: Smart Gilas Pilipinas/ Facebook)

MANILA–Call them the “SEABA 12”. Gilas Pilipinas head coach Chot Reyes officially named the “chosen dozen” that will represent the Philippines in the Southeast Asia Basketball Association (SEABA) Men’s Championship on May 12-18 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

In a public announcement Friday night at the Quezon Convention Center right after the PBA All-Star Game, Reyes named Alaska’s Calvin Abueva, Ginebra’s Japeth Aguilar, Rain or Shine’s Raymond Almazan, Xinjiang’s Andray Blatche, TNT’s Jayson Castro, RR Pogoy, and Troy Rosario, San Miguel’s Junemar Fajardo, Star’s Jio Jalalon and Allein Maliksi, GlobalPort’s Terrence Romeo, and Phoenix’s Matt Wright to the roster that will vie for the lone Southeast Asian spot in the FIBA Asia Cup.

“I think it’s very balanced and versatile. It has size. I think it’s a great combination of Gilas rookies and veterans,” Reyes said of the 12-man crew.

He said he intends to field the “SEABA 12”, sans Blatche, who will join the team in practice only on May 2, in the final game of the All-Star series against the Visayas All-Stars in Lapu-Lapu on Sunday night.

However, with Fajardo and Romeo, who are supposed to be members of the Visayas All-Stars, named to the SEABA 12, a late shakeup to the Tim Cone-coached all-star lineup is expected.