THE SBP is hoping Ronnie Magsanoc’s recent gold-winning ways would carry over to the 2020 FIBA 3X3 Olympic Qualifying Tournament for this year’s Summer Games in Tokyo.
Magsanoc, who steered the Gilas Pilipinas 3×3 team to the gold medal in the last SEA Games, was named to coach the country’s squad for the OQT set March 18-22 in New Delhi, India.
The former point guard, named as one of the PBA’s 25 Greatest Players, also previously coached 3×3 teams to the 2018 FIBA 3×3 World Cup in the Philippines, the 2018 FIBA 3×3 Challenger in Shanghai and the 2018 FIBA 3×3 U23 World Cup in Xi An, China.
He will be picking his team from a pool of the top 10 3×3 players in the country led by Joshua Munzon and Alvin Pasaol.
Dylan Ababou, Karl Dehesa, Leonard Santillan, Chris De Chavez, Gab Banal, Jaypee Belencion, Leo De Vera and Ryan Monteclaro make up the rest of the pool unveiled by chief sponsor Chooks-to-Go.
According to Chooks owner Ronald Mascariñas, the pool has been practicing daily since last month, with just a few breaks for the holidays.
“This is our last shot at the Olympics that is why we are going all out for this,” said Mascariñas, adding said sessions were handled by Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3 commissioner Eric Altamirano, Liman ace and China head coach Stefan Stojacic, and Serbian strength and conditioning coach Darko Krsman.
Also helping out in the sessions are Troy Rike and Franky Johnson.
As per FIBA 3×3 rules, four of the six players that will be part of the team should be in the top 10 of the country’s rankings.
At stake in the New Delhi OQT, where the 20 participating teams have been divided into four groups of five squads each, are three slots to the Tokyo Olympics.
The Philippines is grouped in Pool C with Slovenia, France, Qatar and Dominican Republic.
