BOLSTERED by a pair of returnees and a rising PBA star making his first practice with Gilas Pilipinas, the nationals hit the ground running in their preparations for the fourth window of the FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers last Monday night at the Meralco Gym in Pasig.
Kevin Alas and Calvin Oftana of NLEX made their comeback with the national team training pool, while NorthPort’s Jamie Malonzo showed up for his maiden scrimmage.
Brothers Kiefer and Thirdy Ravena, Dwight Ramos, Bobby Ray Parks Jr., Kevin Quiambao, Carl Tamayo, and Francis Lopez led the attendees in the pool’s first practice.
With Magnolia already eliminated in the PBA Philippine Cup, the Hotshots’ duo of Ian Sangalang and Jio Jalalon were also added to the pool although both did not join the practice supervised by coach Chot Reyes and assistant coaches Tim Cone and Josh Reyes.
Sangalang and Jalalon were expected to join last night’s training.
The Filipino cagers take on Lebanon in Beirut on Aug. 26 and Saudi Arabia three days later at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
Spearheading the pool are Fil-Am NBA player Jordan Clarkson and prized big man Kai Sotto who will arrive on Thursday and Friday this week, respectively.
The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas also named Robert Bolick of the Batang Pier, Ginebra’s Japeth Aguilar, Scottie Thompson, and Arvin Tolentino, San Miguel’s June Mar Fajardo and CJ Perez, and Chris Newsome, Allein Maliksi, and Raymond Almazan of Meralco in the 24-man pool.
Curiously, no player from defending champion TNT which will see action in the finals of the pro league’s import-less tilt was included in the pool.
The Beermen and Meralco duke it out tonight for a finals berth opposite the Tropang Giga.
The Philippine five wound up ninth and missed the quarterfinals of the FIBA Asia Cup last month in Jakarta for the first time since 2007.
With Reyes also calling the shots, Gilas failed to win the gold that matters most to Filipinos in the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam last May.