Cone explains why Bolick, Perez were left out of SEA Games pool

MANILA, Philippines -- Filipino fans were surprised when rookie standouts CJ Perez and Robert Bolick were left out of the Gilas Pilipinas pool that will compete in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, especially after the two young guards shone during the FIBA World Cup last month.

Perez of Columbian Dyip and Bolick of NorthPort were both excluded from the 15-man list, which will be anchored instead by the core of the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings.

Tim Cone, who will call the shots for the team, named LA Tenorio, Scottie Thompson, Stanley Pringle, Greg Slaughter, Japeth Aguilar, and Art dela Cruz to the 15-man pool. They will be joined by the San Miguel core of June Mar Fajardo, Marcio Lassiter, Christian Standhardinger, and Chris Ross.

TNT veteran Jayson Castro will return to international duty, along with Roger Pogoy and Troy Rosario. Also participating are Alaska's Vic Manuel and Phoenix's Matthew Wright.

"We also decided not to take the young players," said Cone. "If you notice there was no Bolick or Perez, or Bobby Parks."

• READ: Cone tapped as Gilas Pilipinas head coach for SEA Games

Instead, Cone said they opted to go with a veteran-laden team.

"This is not always the truth, but generally, veterans are easier to coach in the short-term, they pick up things faster than the young guys," he explained. "Again, this is all about speed and efficiency, that we're trying to do."

"Once we decided that we would take six Ginebra players, we decided we would go with the veteran group," he added.

Having the six Ginebra players in the pool will make it easier for the team to learn Cone's system and tactics, as they will serve as a "model" for the other players, according to the coach. This is critical, as they have a very short period of time to prepare before the SEA Games.

"I'm starting from ground zero, but the good news is, I got six of my Ginebra players and that was why we did this, so that the teaching will be minimal," said Cone.

"I also have models which the other players can watch. I can't overstate how important that is, when you have a really short time to work together and practice," he added.

But Cone stressed that the selection process was difficult.

"It's so hard to eliminate players," he said. "You see all these names - 'Yes, I want him. Oh wait, I can't.'"

"It's just really hard to eliminate guys. Getting it down to 15 was really hard. So I can't even imagine, in another month or so, when we go down to 12," he noted. "Who would you take out?"

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