Ni Marivic Awitan
SISIMULAN na ang maagang paghahanda ng Gilas Pilipinas para sa 2023 FIBA World Cup.
Sasabak ang Gilas Pilipinas cadets – bilang paghahanda sa pagpili ng koponan na ilalaban sa 2023 World Cup – sa idaraos na 2018 Filoil Flying V Preseason Premier Cup.
“To kickstart our preparations for the 2023 World Cup, we will be competing in the Premier Cup,” pahayag ni Gilas head coach Chot Reyes.
Pangungunahan ang koponan nina Ricci Rivero, J-Jay Alejandro, at Abu Tratter.
Para naman sa iba pang miyembro ng team na may mga commitment pa sa kanilang mga school teams, papayagan lamang silang maglaro para sa Gilas kung walang laro ang kanilang team sa araw na may laro ang Gilas.
“The lineup is not yet final but we are hoping that all the 23 for 2023 cadets here will be allowed to play,” dagdag pa ni Reyes.
Ang iba pang miyembro ng pool ay sina Thirdy Ravena, Isaac Go, at Matt Nieto ng UAAP champion Ateneo; Robert Bolick, Javee Mocon, at Kemark Carino ng NCAA champion San Beda; CJ Perez ng Lyceum; Paul Desiderio, Juan Gomez de Liano, at Will Gozum ng University of the Philippines ; Kenneth Tuffin at Arvin Tolentino ng Far Eastern University ; Jeo Ambohot ng Letran; Kai Sotto ng Ateneo High School; at Carl Tamayo ng Nazareth School of National University.
Ang kampanya ng koponan ay susuportahan ng Chooks-to-Go at Smart Communications.
“We would like to thank Chooks-to-Go and Smart for their continued support. Also, we are grateful to their schools for lending their student-athletes for the national cause,” wika ni Reyes.