Gilas Pilipinas Basketball

Gilas Pilipinas Men head coach Tim Cone said he regrets losing Roger Pogoy, who was reported to have a bulging disc injury earlier this week.

The TNT KaTropa wing man was named to the Final 12 roster for the men’s national team in the upcoming 2019 Southeast Asian Games here, but was forced out following the development.

Cone remarked that Pogoy is his best two-way player in the line-up, and that his absence has its effects on the squad especially after the squad also lost Jayson Castro to injury.

“We lost Jayson first and it’s been a blow to us. He’s been a premier guard in the PBA for the last 5, 6, 7 years, then (you) lose RR who’s probably your best two-way player,” the Barangay Ginebra mentor said, per ESPN5’s Lyn Olavario.

“He can defend really well, shoot the ball really well, he can create his own shot, both of them have been a big blow.”

Coach Tim Cone regrets losing @rogerpogz16, his “best 2-way player”, won’t have to decide on a replacement until Dec. 3. @Sports5PH @News5AKSYON pic.twitter.com/jQJifm2Z7t

— Lyn Olavario (@frauey) November 28, 2019

But while the losses to Pogoy and Castro hurt a bit, Cone remains confident in a versatile line-up that could give the rest of the SEA Games participants problems.

“But looking at our line-up, we are not hurt for shooters, we are not hurt for players, we have LA (Tenorio), Stanley (Pringle), and Marcio (Lassiter), and Matt (Wright), and Troy (Rosario),” he stressed.

“We can put out a really good shooting team if we need to. We can put out a good defensive team if we need to, we can go big.”

Going all-pro for the first time in SEA Games competition, Gilas’ roster is composed of LA Tenorio, Japeth Aguilar, Stanley Pringle, Troy Rosario, Marcio Lassiter, Chris Ross, June Mar Fajardo, Christian Standhardinger, Vic Manuel, Matthew Wright, and Kiefer Ravena.

The final cuts were Scottie Thompson, Art Dela Cruz, and Greg Slaughter.

With Pogoy missing the SEA Games, Cone will have to select a replacement, but the multi-titled mentor is in no rush to decide who gets the 12th spot.

“We don’t have to make that decision for now until December 3rd at the manager’s meeting,” Cone said.

Written by Levi Verora Jr.
Photos by Glenn Michael Tan>