By Ivan Stewart Saldajeno/PNA
MANILA — Ten out of the 14 players called up to the Gilas Pilipinas pool for the sixth window of the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers came at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City for the Nationals’ first practice session on Monday night.
Japeth Aguilar, Raymond Almazan, Mark Barroca, Jayson Castro, Poy Erram, June Mar Fajardo, Marcio Lassiter, Gabe Norwood, RR Pogoy, and Troy Rosario showed up in training.
However, only six of them, Aguilar, Barroca, Castro, Fajardo, Norwood, and Rosario, participated in a light shooting drill session.
Rosario, who suffered a broken nose following an endgame incident in a preseason match-up between TNT KaTropa and NLEX Road Warriors last month, had to wear a protective mask.
Almazan, another player in the injury bay due to an ankle sprain, sat out practice along with Erram, who took the day off after playing for the Road Warriors the night before.
Lassiter and Aguilar, on the other hand, came in late.
The Gilas practice started way earlier than usual to give ample time for the award recipients in the PBA Press Corps Awards to make their way to Novotel in Cubao, Quezon City.
