MANILA – Ilonggo Ferdinand “Thirdy” Ravena III and Bacolodnon Kib Montalbo were among those being considered for the Gilas Pilipinas team competing in the 2023 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers later this month.
Ravena returned to the country from Japan on Tuesday evening after being called up to play for the national men’s basketball team under coach Vincent “Chot” Reyes.
A former standout of Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles, he gained the blessing of his Japan B.League team San-En NeoPhoenix to play for Gilas in the qualifiers.
With his absence, Ravena will not be able to play for the NeoPhoenix when they battle his elder brother Kiefer Ravena and the Shiga Lakestars on Feb. 26 and 27.
Thirdy became the second B.League player to be called up for the national men’s basketball team aside from Filipino-American Dwight Ramos of Toyama Grouses.
Montalbo of the TNT Tropang Giga, on the other hand, is also being considered for the 12-man Gilas Pilipinas roster due to shortage of legitimate point guards in the pool.
According to Reyes, the Bacolod City native defensive guard has been tapped to join the Gilas practice for their qualifier games on February 24 and 28 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“We’re taking a look at Kib Montalbo because we do not have any point guard aside from Juan Gomez de Liano,” said Reyes during the virtual PSA Forum on Tuesday.
If ever, this will be the first Gilas stint for Montalbo, who actually hasn’t suited up yet for Tropang Giga in the PBA Governors Cup after coming off a surgery during the season-break to repair a meniscal tear.
The former De La Salle University Green Archers and St. John’s Institute-Bacolod standout had his best conference as a PBA player under the guidance of Reyes./PN
