Roosevelt Adams during his stint with Terrafima Dyip in the PBA. –PBA IMAGES
MANILA, Philippines–Roosevelt Adams has been in free agency limbo since leaving Terrafirma Dyip during the PBA’s offseason.
But he has found an unlikely home in Gilas Pilipinas on Monday, joining 12 other cagers who will represent the Philippines against Lebanon in a key Fiba World Cup Asian Qualifying game in Beirut.
The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas on Monday said that Adams, the first overall pick of the 2020 PBA Rookie Draft, has drawn so much praise from the Gilas coaching staff since joining the camp for the games against the Cedars and the Saudis.
“He was in America, and then signified that he wanted to join the national team pool if he is welcome,” SBP executive director and spokesperson Sonny Barrios said on Monday.
“Of course we welcomed him. True enough, he was picked by the coaching staff led by coach Chot (Reyes),” he added.
Adams is a 6-foot-6 forward who can hit shots from inside and out. Mobile and active on defense, he can provide depth to an already athletic and tall roster that will shoot for payback against Lebanon.
Barrios said he is not aware if there are discussions to make Adams a full-time member of the national basketball program, the same way it locked down the likes of Will Navarro, Jaydee Tungcab, Jordan Heading, and Tzaddy Rangel.
But the former PBA commissioner said that it wouldn’t come off as a surprise if it came to that.
“It seems like it. As we would say in Tagalog, ‘May kinabukasan ‘yang batang ‘yan sa’tin (he has a future with us).’”