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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 1) – After a promising performance in Bahrain, Gilas Pilipinas cadets will have an equal chance to compete for a place in the next team that will be dispatched in February for the third window of the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers.
Gilas’ interim head coach Jong Uichico made sure after the team defeated Southeast Asian rival Thailand again, 93-69, on Monday at the Khalifa Sports City in Manama, Bahrain.
“They all compete for a place in the third window. They all have the same opportunities,” said Uichico, a nine-time champion mentor for the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).
The young Gilas Pilipinas team, comprised of collegiate stars and PBA rookies, exceeded expectations after sweeping the Thais in two games and lifting the country to the top of Group A with an immaculate 3-0 record.
Game 1 on November 27 saw incoming Ateneo Blue Eagle Dwight Ramos score a perfect shooting night finishing with 20 points. Meanwhile, the Gómez de Liaño brothers took over in their second game on Monday.
Uichico added that Gilas Pilipinas’ coaching staff will assess the composition of the team for the February window and the future of the cadets once they resume their training camp in January.
Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas decided to send a young line-up of Gilas Pilipinas in the ‘bubble’ tournament in Manama due to the current 45th PBA season and develop these players in future international tournaments.
Besides Ramos and the Gomez de Liaño brothers, the other Gilas cadet members who played in Bahrain are Isaac Go, brothers Mike and Matt Nieto, William Navarro, Calvin Oftana, Kenmark Cariño, Jaydee Tungcab, Kobe Paras, Justine Baltazar, Rey Good luck Dave Ildefonso. Allyn Bulanadi and foreign player Angelo Kouame were left out of Bahrain’s list due to the injury of the former and the naturalization of the latter.
Gilas is expected to fight his Group A groupmates, Indonesia and South Korea, in the February 2021 window.
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