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THE Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) revealed the composition of the group of 16 Gilas Pilipinas that will compete in the 2021 Asian Cup qualifiers of the International Basketball Federation (Fiba). Bahrain will be staying in a bubble environment in its capital, Manama, later this month.
The pool, according to the Gilas program director, Tab Baldwin, is made up of Mike and Matt Nieto, Isaac Go, Kobe Paras, Justine Baltazar, Dave Ildefonso, Juan and Javi Gómez de Liaño, Calvin Oftana, Will Navarro, Dwight Ramos, Kenmark Carino, Jaydee Tungcab, Rey Suerte and Allyn Bulanadi.
Angelo Kouame, six-foot-10, is the potential naturalized player.
No one in the pool is from the Philippine Basketball Association.
SBP President Al Panlilio said the group began training on Friday at the Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba, Laguna, after the federation obtained approval from the Interagency Working Group for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases to resume the team training.
Panlilio said no PBA players were included in the group because Northport, NLEX and Terrafirma, who were eliminated in the Philippine Cup, are recovering from Clark’s bubble.
“We know that some of them are willing to play for our country and we appreciate it, but it is important that they take time to recover physically and mentally,” said Panlilio. “They were separated from their respective families for a long period of time.”
“I am happy to have the green light and grateful to our government agencies, MVP [Manuel V. Pangilinan] and to the SBP for their work to make this happen and for their support at this very difficult time, ”said Baldwin.
The Philippines will play Thailand on November 26, South Korea on November 28 and Thailand again on November 30. Bahrain will host all of the Group A games that include South Korea, the Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand, as well as Group D made up of Bahrain Iraq, Lebanon and India.
On February 23 before the pandemic, the Philippines defeated Indonesia at home, 100-70, on February 23, but the Covid-19 pandemic caused the cancellation of Thailand on March 20.
