In case of injuries: Gary David, Troy Rosario tabbed as Gilas reserves

Published September 11, 2015 3:38pm

Despite missing the final cut for the Gilas Pilipinas lineup, Gary David and Troy Rosario are still practicing with the national team as reserve players.

No reserves were named in the 12-man roster initially announced by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas on Tuesday night, but coach Tab Baldwin confirmed that David and Rosario will fulfill the role for Gilas.

"We'll keep Gary and Troy, just to keep our number extended. You see Calvin [Abueva] and Terrence [Romeo] sitting out because of injury so we need the extra bodies in practice," the American-Kiwi mentor said.

Rosario, an incoming rookie acquired by Talk 'N Text in a trade shortly after draft day, was tapped from the amateur ranks to be part of the national team pool after several PBA players begged off the list.

David, meanwhile, is one of six holdovers from the previous Gilas incarnation that won the silver medal in the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship and participated in the historic 2014 FIBA World Cup campaign.

The two players, who helped the team bag the silver medal in the recent William Jones Cup in Taiwan, would also be tapped as part of the FIBA Asia lineup in case of injuries to the current team.

"We got a big and a guard. We feel that if there is an injury, somebody goes down, then we have the right kind of player that's available to step in," Baldwin said.

Whether the two will be flying to China with the final Gilas Pilipinas 12, however, has not been decided yet according to the coach.

Baldwin expressed gratitude to the their respective PBA teams - the Tropang Texters and the Meralco Bolts, which are both bankrolled by SBP president Manuel V. Pangilinan - for letting David and Rosario stay with Gilas despite failing to make the cut.

"They're great servants, both of them - one's got a great future, one's got a great past," he said. "We're honored really that both of them and their clubs allow us to keep them." —JST, GMA News

Tags: garydavid, troyrosario, gilaspilipinas