Gilas’ Rike to make NU Bulldogs debut in Passi

Gilas Pilipinas Cadet Troy Rike, who will play for NU Bulldogs in pocket games in Passi City, wants to “get accustomed to the Filipino style of play.” SMART GILAS PHOTO

GILAS Pilipinas Cadet Troy Rike will play for National University Bulldogs for the first time at the Passi Invitational Intercollegiate Basketball Tournament that starts Wednesday at the Passi Arena in Passi City, Iloilo.

The Filipino-American forward, who committed to play for Bulldogs for one season, was last-minute addition to the pocket tournament as NU prepares for its UAAP Season 81 campaign.

The 6-foot-7 Rike, a graduate of Wake Forest University in the United States, became eligible to play for the upcoming UAAP season after enrolling for a master’s degree at NU.

“The most important thing for me is to get as many game reps as I can over here, to get accustomed to the Filipino style of play,” said Rike. “It is a little bit different here.”

Rike will join Joshua Sinclair, Chino Mosqueda, John Galinato, John Lloyd Clemente, Shaun Ildefonso, Issa Gaye, Arden Diputado, Enzo Joson, JV Gallego, Dave Yu, Jonas Tibayan, Matthew Aquino, Dave Ildefonso, and Med Salim in the Bulldogs’ roster for Passi.

NU will open its campaign against Far Eastern University Tamaraws at 4 p.m. Wednesday after the opening ceremony at 3:30 p.m. University of the Philippines Maroons will face University of San Jose Recoletos at 5:30 p.m.

Aside from the four-day pocket games, a free basketball clinic will also be held for children in Passi.

“This is the first time that we will hold such a big basketball league,” said Mayor Jesry Palmares. “Passi City is very glad to hold this type of event that will inspire Passinhons and [their] neighboring municipalities.”/PN

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