Photo by Tristan Tamayo/ INQUIRER.net
Gilas Pilipinas’ preparation for the future will begin this summer.
Players included in coach Chot Reyes’ “23-for-2023” list will comprise one team and will compete in the 2018 Filoil Flying V Preseason Premier Cup.
“To kickstart our preparations for the 2023 Fiba World Cup, we will be competing in the Premier Cup,” said Reyes.
Ricci Rivero, J-Jay Alejandro, and Abu Tratter are expected to spearhead the campaign as they test their mettle against some of the best collegiate teams in the country.
Rivero left La Salle last week, while Alejandro and Tratter have already used up all of their playing years for NU and La Salle, respectively.
Other members of the pool are expected to join the Gilas squad, only if their schools does not have a game scheduled on that specific gameday.
“The lineup is not yet final, but we are hoping that all the 23-for-2023 cadets here will be allowed to play,” said Reyes.
Also part of the pool are Thirdy Ravena, Isaac Go, and Matt Nieto of Ateneo, Robert Bolick, Javee Mocon, and Kemark Carino of San Beda, CJ Perez (Lyceum), Paul Desiderio, Juan Gomez de Liaño, and Will Gozum (UP), Ken Tuffin and Arvin Tolentino of FEU; Jeo Ambohot (Letran), High school standouts Kai Sotto (Ateneo) and Carl Tamayo (Nazareth School of National University).
Players from the pool already had their first taste of national team preparations when they joined Gilas’ Monday practices for the second window of the 2019 Fiba World Cup Asian qualifiers early this year.