Gilas Pilipinas suffers blow, loses Fonacier from pool

The Gilas Pilipinas national team suffered a blow Thursday after pure shooter Larry Fonacier begged off from the pool for medical reasons.

Gilas head coach Vincent "Chot" Reyes announced this on his Twitter account, saying he accommodated Fonacier's request to beg off "for the meantime."

"It is with deep sadness that we have to accept Larry's request to beg off (from) the Gilas pool for the meantime. Unknown to many, Larry has been playing through a variety of foot and back injuries that have bothered him the past two years," he said.

He said it was only Fonacier's "great dedication" that has prevented him from taking any time off.

But he added the rigors of playing almost non-stop in the Philippine Basketball Association and national team for the past three years had taken its toll.

Fonacier, who plays for Talk N'Text in the PBA, had "no recourse but to accede to his doctors orders for complete rest and rehabilitation," Reyes said.

"We will definitely miss Larry's quiet leadership and unyielding heart," he said.

The Gilas team won the bronze at the FIBA Asia Cup earlier this month after Paul Lee hit three clutch free throws to carry the Philippines past China, 80-79. — Joel Locsin /LBG, GMA News