MANILA – De La Salle University Green Archers transferee Mark Nonoy is being eyed by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) as a possible addition to the expanded Gilas Pilipinas pool.
SBP program director Thomas Baldwin said the La Carlota, Negros Occidental-native guard will be one of the possible invitees, as the national men’s basketball team plans to expand its training pool.
“When we have the opportunity to expand the pool, that’s what we want to do,” Baldwin said in an interview with Zoom In on Spin on Thursday. “You know, expanding, bringing in more talent as long as players are available.”
Baldwin added that he plans to turn the 5-foot-10 Nonoy into an elite defender if chance permits. It’s the same challenges that will be faced by current pool members in fellow Negrense Samjosef Belangel and RJ Abarrientos.
“Mark at the point is small but just watching him play, talking to the coaches about him, and thinking about it more, he is a kid that seems to overcome the limitations of his size,” Baldwin said.
“Defensively, there’s going to be real challenges for him, In Southeast Asia, it’s no problem. In Asia, it’s probably a winnable case for them. But when you get to the international level, you have to be an elite defender if you’re small,” he added.
If ever the Gilas Pilipinas pool invite becomes a reality, it will be a dream come true for the former University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers guard as he aims to follow the footsteps of his idol, TNT Tropang Giga guard Jayson Castro.
“It was my dream to be able to represent the country,” Nonoy said in an interview with CPT Crossover podcast of Cedelf Tupas last year. “I was not able to play (for the national youth team) because I was still playing for (Hua Siong College of Iloilo Red Phoenix).”
“My goal is to be at (Castro’s) level,” he added. “I know I have the speed advantage but I also know that, once I am defended well, I will have a tough time so I’m trying to see parts of (Castro’s) game that I can integrate into my game.”
Aside from the UAAP Season 82 Rookie of the Year awardee, Baldwin also mentioned in the interview Colegio de San Juan de Letran Knights forward Rhenz Abando and University of Philippines guard James Spencer as possible Gilas additions./PN
