The Gilas Pilipinas team under coach Tim Cone kicked off on Monday, September 11, its two-week training for the 19th Asian Games set September 23 to October 8 in Hangzhou, China.

At the Philsports Arena in Pasig where they played tuneup games against Ivory Coast, Montenegro and Mexico in preparation for the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, Gilas holdovers June Mar Fajardo, Japeth Aguilar, Scottie Thompson and RR Pogoy reported back to work and were joined by nine others, including Chris Newsome and Calvin Oftana, two of the last four players cut from the national team pool.

Gone from the Gilas World Cup roster that wound up in 24th place is NBA star Jordan Clarkson, along with Kai Sotto, Dwight Ramos, Kiefer Ravena, AJ Edu, and Rhenz Abando, who returned to their respective teams in the Japan and Korean leagues after the national team’s classification victory over Asian Games rival China.

Added to the team, for now, are naturalized player Justin Brownlee, Jason Perkins, Ange Kouame, Mo Tautuaa, Calvin Abueva, and Terrence Romeo, with Stanley Pringle serving as a stand-in player.

Pogoy sat out the first day of practice due to a mild sprain. CJ Perez is reportedly abroad and won’t be able to make it in time for the Asian Games.

Training started at 12 noon and ran until 2 p.m., with Cone presiding over team practice with assistance from Richard del Rosario, Jong Uichico, Olsen Racela, and LA Tenorio.

PBA chairman Ricky Vargas attended the scrimmage, along with Gilas team manager Alfrancis Chua and alternate team manager Willie Marcial.

The Philippine team, which leaves for Hangzhou on September 23, is bracketed in Group C with Jordan, led by TNT import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Thailand with Tyler Lamb, and Bahrain with Wayne Chism. Men’s basketball action in the Asiad gets going from September 26 to October 6.

Gilas will wrap up its training at the Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba, Laguna.