Healthy again, Sangalang out to make most of national team call-up

Ian Sangalang’s about to take another chance at being a national team player.

After he begged off in the past versions of Gilas, the smooth-moving big man can don the national tricolor after Yeng Guiao invited him to be part of the team for the next window of the Fiba World Cup Asian Qualifiers.

“I’m very happy to be part of Team Philippines and this will be a great exposure for me,” said Sangalang in Filipino after his Magnolia Hotshots trumped NorthPort 104-87 in the PBA Governors’ Cup Saturday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“I’m just really happy because out of all the players here I was chosen to become part of the team.”

Sangalang added that he didn’t initially think that he would become part of the team and he only read news from Indonesia that Guiao chose him to be part of the squad for the games against Iran and Qatar.

“I only saw it on the news and it was only today that I can finally say, officially, that I will be part of the team,” said Sangalang who received a memo to show up for the team’s practice on Monday.

Sangalang’s first national team call-up was back in 2015 during Tab Baldwin’s coaching tenure but begged off after recurring pains in his knees.

And with his knees fully healed, Sangalang assured that he will be part of the team in the next Fiba window.

“I had problems with my knees before so I asked permission if I can join in future tournaments once they’re healed,” said Sangalang. “Now I know that I’m ready and I can perform.”