GILAS Pilipinas won’t likely have a problem when it comes to big men in the future.
Fil-Nigerian AJ Edu has committed anew to suit up for the Philippine five to form a menacing frontline with Kai Sotto and naturalized player Ange Kouame.
“I definitely do want to play for Gilas in the near future. They’ve (the SBP) been keeping in contact with me, just checking in making sure I’m doing okay,” Edu said last Saturday on Radyo5 92.3 News FM’s Power and Play program hosted by former PBA Commissioner Noli Eala.
“They’ve also done a good job just making sure I’m handling the situation mentally,” he added.
Having just recuperated from an ACL injury he suffered in the 2019 FIBA Under-19 World Cup and a meniscus tear last year, the 6-foot-10 Edu will not join the nationals in two coming international tournaments, however.
“This coming summer may be a little soon as I’ve just basically recovered from my injury but definitely in the future,” Edu, who plays for University of Toledo in the US NCAA Division I, said. “The plan is to be a part of Gilas.”
The Filipino dribblers are set to do battle in the third window of the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers in a bubble from June 16 to 20 in Clark.
Gilas will also try to gain a Tokyo Games berth in the Olympic qualifying tournament from June 29 to July 4 in Belgrade, Serbia.
Edu, 21, lauded the work that the all-amateur squad has been putting in under Gilas program director Tab Baldwin.
