KABILANG si Ateneo star Thirdy Ravena sa bagong hugot para sa Gilas Pilipians pool.
Ipinahayag ni Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) president Al Panlilio angpagpili sa 6-foot-3 high-flyer mula sa defending three-time UAAP champion, kasama si University of the Philippines defender Jaydee Tungcab.
“We’re adding Thirdy and Tungcab to the lineup,” pahayag ni Panlilio.
Hindi lumasok si Ravena sa ginanap na 2019 PBA Rookie Draft sa kabila ng dominanteng career sa Blue Eagles kung saan tangan niya ang averaged 14.4 puntos, 6.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists, at 1.1 stealssa nakalipas na season at tuldukan ang collegiate career na may tatlong UAAP titles at tatlong Finals MVP awards.
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Hindi naman masyadong pansin ang marka ni Tungcab na may average 2.9 puntos at 1.6 rebounds. Naglalaro siya sa likod ng anino nina star player Kobe Paras at Ricci Rivero.
Iginiit ni Panlilio na mismong si Tab Baldwin, nakatakdang maging program director ng National Team, ang nagrekomenda sa dalawa.
“Tab is helping us craft the program, on the development of the pool that what we have,” ayon kay Panlilio.
Samantala, inamin din ni Panlilio na naghahanap na ang SBP nang bagong naturaliezed p[ayers kapalit ni Andray Blatche.
Posibleng ang 2019 FIBA World Cup ang huling laro ni Blatche sa Gilas.
“Andray has helped us a lot in the past but I think it’s time we move on from him,” sambit ni Panlilio.
Sa kasalukuyan, sina Christian Standhardinger at Stanley Pringle ang ‘technically’ naturalized platers ng Gilas.
“My objective is to have two to three names as a pool for naturalized players to lessen the risk kung magka-injury man. So, that’s a process also. We are finalizing the line-up, finalizing the naturalized players, and the coaches. Yan yung mga task-at-hand. But for the first window, we only have two naturalized players today in Stanley and Christian. So maybe their names will be put there. We have to see,” sambit ni Panlilio.
