IT was a sight to behold at the Meralco Gym in Pasig City last Monday night as the present and future of Philippine basketball showed up for the national men’s team’s first practice session for an expectedly tough game against Australia next month.
And no less than Manuel V. Pangilinan, the country’s foremost basketball patron and chairman of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, who was amazed of the turnout.
“First [Gilas practice] in the new year. Veterans and cadets. Cream of Philippine basketball all in one court,” Pangilinan said in his social media account. “What a sight to behold, makes me optimistic about Gilas future,” the he added.
Gilas Pilipinas is preparing for its 2019 Fiba World Cup Asian Qualifiers against powerhouse Australia. on February 22 in Melbourne.
But other than the Gilas pool for the Aussie game, the members of the so-called “23 for 23,”players who were chosen by the SBP this early to train for the 2023 World Cup which the country is co-hosting, also showed up.
Twelve of the 15-man training pool—led by many-time national team player Jayson Castro—for the Asian Qualifiers were present in practice.
Only June Mar Fajardo, Calvin Abueva and Raymond Almazan were not around due to health reasons. But they are expected to attend the practice next Monday.
“Missing a few but perhaps the largest gathering of multi-generational talent in Philippine hoop history,” Gilas Head Coach Chot Reyes said. Also present were Gabe Norwoord, Japeth Aguilar, Matthew Wright, Kiefer Ravena, Allein Maliksi, Troy Rosario, Kevin Alan, Mac Belo, Roger Pogoy, Jio Jalalon and Carl Bryan Cruz.
Gilas has already beaten Chinese Taipei and Japan in the qualifiers.
Among the collegiate stars who joined the training session were Paul Desiderio, Juan Gomez de Liano, Isaac Go, Jayjay Alejandro, Joshua Sinclair, Kemark Cariño, Javee Mocon, Arvin Tolentino, Jeo Ambohot and Will Gozum.