FOLLOWING a four-day training session focused on enhancing team chemistry at the Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba, Laguna, a depleted Gilas Pilipinas is set to embark on their journey to Estonia on Thursday evening.

However, Gilas coach Chot Reyes anticipates that not all 20 members of the national pool will be able to leave Manila, as four players are still recovering from various injuries.

TNT veteran shooter Roger Pogoy continues his therapy after fracturing his right pinky finger during the recent PBA Governors’ Cup Finals. Calvin Oftana is also nursing a calf injury sustained during last May’s victorious Southeast Asian Games campaign.

Bobby Ray Parks (wrist) and Jordan Heading (back) will also be absent from the Gilas squad.

On a positive note, PBA stars June Mar Fajardo and Japeth Aguilar have returned to action after recovering from separate injuries suffered earlier in the PBA season.

Justin Brownlee, one of the three naturalized players in the pool, did not participate in the training in Laguna as he underwent a “non-basketball medical procedure” in the United States, as stated in Reyes’ Instagram update on Tuesday. He is expected to join the rest of the Gilas pool in Estonia.

While the training in Laguna may not have been ideal due to the injury recoveries, Reyes expects the remaining healthy players to give their all as they face national teams from Estonia, Finland, and Latvia.

Utah Jazz star Jordan Clarkson and young center Kai Sotto are not expected to join the European trip.

Dwight Ramos, one of the several Japan B.League players in the pool, trained with the team for at least two days after recovering from an ankle injury sustained in the late stages of last year’s Japan B.League.

The European trip forms part of Gilas’ preparations for the 2023 FIBA World Cup, where the Philippines will commence their group stage campaign against the Dominican Republic on August 25 at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan. (ai/mtvn)