MANILA – Ilonggos Kiefer and Thirdy Ravena, and Antiqueño Rey Mark Belo will spearhead the 24-man Gilas Pilipinas pool for the first window of the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers this February.
This is the first time that the Ravena brothers will team up bannering the country’s colors after playing side by side in the UAAP with the Blue Eagles, while Belo earns his recall in the national duty.
The Gilas Pilipinas pool, released by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) on Friday, also shows a mixture of veteran and incoming rookie PBA players, and collegiate standouts.
Other PBA players named in the 24-man squad were Christian Standhardinger, who will serve as naturalized player, John Paul Erram, Bobby Ray Parks Jr., Jeth Troy Rosario, Roger Pogoy, Jaymar Perez, Jean Marc Pingris, Matthew Wright and Japeth Aguilar.
The SBP pool also included George Isaac Go, twins Matt and Mike Nieto, Rey Suerte and Allyn Bulanadi, who were drafted during the PBA special draft last December. Former University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons guard Frederick Tungcab was also in the list.
Named from the collegiate ranks were Fighting Maroons’ Kobe Paras and brothers Juan and Javi Gomez de Liaño, De La Salle University Green Archers’ Justine Baltazar and Ateneo Blue Eagles’ Dwight Ramos and Dave Ildefonso.
The 24 players are set to vie for their spots in the national team roster, having to take on SEA neighbors Thailand and Indonesia on Feb.20 and 23, respectively./PN
