Fajardo, Aguilar, Thirdy lead 16-man Gilas Pilipinas pool for Vietnam SEA Games

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) on Friday named the 16 players who will compose the Gilas Pilipinas pool in the 31st Southeast Asian Games to be hosted by Vietnam from May 12 to 23.

National team head coach Chot Reyes revealed that PBA players June Mar Fajardo, Japeth Aguilar, Poy Erram, Mo Tautuaa, Troy Rosario, RR pogoy, Matthew Wright, Kevin Alas, Robert Bolick, and Kib Montalbo will lead the cast.

Joining them are Japan B. League imports Thirdy Ravena and Dwight Ramos, who both suited up in the February window of the FIBA World Cup qualifiers where the Philippines went 3-1. Also called up were youngsters Wil Navarro, Lebron Lopez, and Caelum Harris.

"For now, we cannot name yet the final 12 roster but this is the pool we felt that will give us the best chance of winning the gold in the SEA Games," said Reyes on the heels of TNT's 106-101 overtime win over NorthPort.

"I always say that we want to look into the future. We wanted to have a lot more young players in the pool, except that the SEA Games is going to overlap with the UAAP schedule."

In a previous interview, league commissioner Willie Marcial said players who were included in Reyes' wish list gave their nod in representing the country in the biennial meet as the PBA will be during that time.

The Philippines is the winningest basketball team in the SEA Games after bagging 20 medals, 18 of which were gold while two were silvers. Gilas is also looking to take home its 14th straight title after ruling the 13 previous editions.

—MGP, GMA News