MANILA – Players from Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles, University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons and San Beda University Red Lions will banner the 16-man Gilas Pilipinas pool for the 2021 Fiba Asia Cup qualifiers later this month.
Among the Blue Eagles players tapped to be part of the pool were Dwight Ramos, Dave Ildefonso and William Navarro. Also from Ateneo were Gilas Cadets George Isaac Go and twins Matt and Mike Nieto.
Blue Eagles’ reinforcement Angelo Kouame was also picked but is unlikely to secure his Filipino citizenship as Gilas Pilipinas’ naturalized player in time for the bubble qualifiers to be held at Manama, Bahrain.
Named from the Fighting Maroons were Kobe Paras, Frederick Tungcab and brother Juan and Javi Gomez de Liano while tapped from the Red Lions were Calvin Oftana and Kemark Carino.
Completing the Gilas pool were De La Salle University Green Archers’ Justine Baltazar and Gilas Cadets Rey Suerte and Allyn Bulanadi.
In preparation for the qualifiers, the players will undergo training at the Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba, Laguna.
Gilas Pilipinas, which is currently sporting a 1-0 win-loss record in Group A, is preparing for their games against Thailand on Nov. 26, Korea on Nov. 28, and Thailand again on Nov. 30./PN
