By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
Veteran shooting guard of the TNT Tropang Giga RR Pogoy might not be available for Gilas Pilipinas as his fractured finger is yet to heal up.
Multiple sources announced the most recent Gilas update last June 21, 2023, as the national team is set to fly to Estonia for a couple of international friendly games as part of their build-up for the upcoming FIBA World Cup this August.
Pogoy will not be flying with the national team and has also missed the four-day intensive camp last Saturday at the Inspire Sports Academy in Laguna.
The versatile scorer suffered his fractured pinky finger last PBA Governor’s Cup when they took on the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel in the grand finals stage.
Since suffering the injury, Pogoy has been ruled out by both the TNT franchise and the national team in all basketball activities unless cleared by his doctors.
Pogoy has been an integral piece to Gilas as his numerous huge games helped them clinch crucial wins on the international stage.
Aside from Pogoy, Carl Tamayo, the former UP Fighting Maroons star power forward, also begged off from Gilas due to a knee injury.
Tamayo was also included in the 21-man Gilas pool set to play in the FIBA World Cup but he confirmed that a minor injury will be keeping him away from basketball activities for a few months.
Members who were present in the four-day camp in Laguna are Gilas veterans June Mar Fajardo, Japeth Aguilar, and Kiefer Ravena.
Also there are Jamie Malonzo, Thirdy Ravena, CJ Perez, Scottie Thompson, Chris Newsome, and JP Erram.
