Dave Ildefonso, Geo Chiu always ready to answer Gilas call-up

FILE–Geo Chiu and Dave Ildefonso during their Gilas Pilipinas stints. –FIBA PHOTOS

MANILA, Philippines–Ateneo’s Dave Ildefonso and Geo Chiu will be ready to represent the country again, should Gilas Pilipinas come calling.

Ildefonso and Chiu both reiterated their interest to play for the national team again in the near future.

“I’m really hoping to play for Gilas and I haven’t turned down any offer from them,” Dave Ildefonso said Thursday during the Blue Eagles’ press conference before their World University Basketball Series (WUBS) stint in Tokyo, Japan, next week.

Ildefonso last played for Gilas Pilipinas against New Zealand in the 2023 Fiba World Cup Asian qualifiers last month.

Geo Chiu, the 6-foot-8 big, also expressed his eagerness to don national team colors again.

“Whenever they call me, I’ll be ready. Right now [I get] no call ups, but I’ll be ready,” Chiu said.

Chiu played for Gilas in the third window of the 2022 Fiba Asia Cup.

Naturalized center Ange Kouame is still expected to play for Gilas. However, it will be a matter of when.

Kouame is still nursing a knee injury. He is included in the lineup for next week’s WUBS but is unsure whether he will play or not.

The 6-foot-11 stalwart has been an important piece for the Gilas Pilipinas, posting averages of 9.7 points and 6.1 rebounds in the entirety of his Fiba stints (2020-21).

Kouame and the Blue Eagles are currently turning their attention to the upcoming tournament in Japan.

“We expect a lot of challenges to come our way and we’re willing to accept those challenges.”