Gilas might be 2 players short for first two matches in SEA Games 2017

Gilas Pilipinas might kick off this year's Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) in Malaysia short of two players, the team's coaches said on Saturday.

In an interview at Marco Polo Ortigas, Coach Jong Uichico said Filipino-German Christian Standhardinger and amateur standout Carl Bryan Cruz might not make it to the beginning of the tourney due to their stint in the FIBA Asian Cup in Lebanon.

The two will compete in the Asian Cup from August 8 to 20, before flying to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for the 2017 SEA Games, slated from August 19 to 30.

"There is a possibility [na magkulang] kasi 12 lang ang line up, and as we said Christian is in the FIBA and si Carl Bryan is in the FIBA, so dalawa yung nasa SEA Games that will follow. So we will have to play with 10 players for the first game or two," Uichico said.

Coach Chot Reyes said this is the first time that Gilas Pilipinas will participate in back-to-back tournaments.

"Ngayon lang in history we have back to back tournaments. Sana kung may two days in between, people can shuttle players from one to another pero hindi ganun eh," Coach Chot Reyes said.

"We're the only country in the world I think that has that problem. Tayo lang ang nag-qualify sa Asia na maglaro sa Southeast Asia. The other Asian countries do not have that problem," he added.

Apart from Standhardinger and Cruz, the other players that make up Gilas' roster for the 2017 SEA Games are Kobe Paras, Mike Tolomia, Baser Amer, Kiefer Ravena, Almond Vosotros, Ray Parks, Von Pessumal, Kevin Ferrer, Raymar Jose, and Troy Rosario. —ALG, GMA News