PBA stars join Gilas Pilipinas camp

Magnolia guard Jio Jalalon. – Jalalon and teammate Ian Sangalang have been added to Gilas Pilipinas’ pool shortly after the Hotshots were eliminated in the Philippine Cup semifinals. PBA IMAGES

MANILA, Philippines—Gilas Pilipinas opened camp with on Monday night featuring a bevy of new faces from the pro ranks.

Calvin Oftana and Kevin Alas of NLEX while Jamie Malonzo of NorthPort bannered the contingent from the Philippine Basketball Association during the talent pool’s first meeting at Meralco Gym in Pasig City.

Magnolia’s Jio Jalalon and Ian Sangalang are expected to join the bunch on Tuesday night, rejoining the national team for the first time in a long while like Alas.

The group was joined by Chot Reyes and his coaching staff which now also features Barangay Ginebra mentor Tim Cone.

The PBA talents were the latest additions to a shortlist led by Kiefer and Thirdy Ravena, Ray Parks Jr., Dwight Ramos, Carl Tamayo, Kevin Quiambao, and Francis Lopez.

The Philippines, which will be led by Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson, is scheduled to play Fiba Asia Cup runner-up Lebanon on Aug. 25 and Saudi Arabia here in Manila on Aug. 29 in the fourth window of the World Cup Qualifiers the cage program is using to prepare for the global showcase here next year.

Also backstopping the Nationals is 7-foot-3 Kai Sotto, who is set to arrive on Aug. 18. Clarkson planes in a day after the young big man.

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