FILE – Kiefer Ravena. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—Members of Gilas Pilipinas have arrived at the team’s training facility at Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba, Laguna as they prepare for the February window of the 2021 Fiba Asia Cup Qualifiers.
The players posted on their respective social media accounts their arrival on the “Calambubble” that will serve as their training ground.
Captain Kiefer Ravena and cadets Isaac Go, Calvin Oftana, and Kemark Carino were the first to arrive at Inspire.
Also at the school, which is a campus of National University, are twins Mike and Matt Nieto, Javi Gomez de Liaño, Rey Suerte, and Justine Baltazar.
With the PBA still on break after the 2020 Philippine Cup, that leaves Ravena, who’s the only professional player in Calamba, to fulfill his national team duties.
The Philippines was chosen as one of the four hosts of the February window wherein the competitions will be held in bubble environments.
Group A’s the Philippines, South Korea, Indonesia, and Thailand, and Group C’s New Zealand, Australia, Guam, and Hong Kong will be housed in Clark, Pampanga for the competition.
The Philippines are atop Group A with a 3-0 record but will now face South Korea twice on Feb. 18 and 22 with one game against Indonesia on the 20th.
Gilas needs one more win to qualify for the Asia Cup that Indonesia will host.