Ni Ernest Hernandez
WALA na nga sina Andray Blatche at June Mar Fajardo, alanganin pa raw si Gabe Norwood sa Gilas Pilipinas.
Ngunit, tsismis lang ang lahat.
Mismong ang Fil-Am star ang nagbasura sa naglabasang usapin na hindi siya makalalaro dahil sa injury.
“Very much available. Very much here, on two legs and ready to play,” Kumpiyansang pahayag ni Norwood bago tumulak ang Gilas Pilipinas patungong Lebanon nitong weekend.
“I’m sure it is a miscommunication on somebody else part. I was never contacted and I can clear that up and we are good,” aniya.
Inamin ni Norwood na nakarating sa kanyang kaalaman ang tsismis na hindi siya makalalaro at sa sariling pagbabantay, nalaman niya ang posibleng dahilan.
“I was a little surprised,” sambit ni Norwood. “At first when I saw it, I thought it was an old article maybe that somebody reposted and something like that.”
Kakailanganin ng Gilas ang katatagan ni Norwood na magsisilbing lider ng koponan na binubuo nang mga bagong Gilas, gayundin ang pagkawala ng reliable scorer na sina Blatche at Fajardo.
“It is going to be interesting,” sambit ni Norwood.
“It is easy to say right now but we don’t have the three-time MVP so it is going to be difficult. But these are the moments when guys step up and it is interesting to see who is ready on the international stage.”
“I am excited for the guys who are going to get extended minutes, especially a teammate of mine, Raymond (Almazan) who is going to step up and play well for us,” aniya.
