GILAS Pilipinas got the commitment of Japan B. League mainstays Dwight Ramos and brothers Kiefer and Thirdy Ravena for the fifth window of the FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers in November.
The nationals buckled down to work last night at the Meralco Gym in Pasig without Ramos and the Ravenas. They are expected to work out with the team starting Oct. 27 when the Japan league takes a break.
The likes of reigning PBA MVP Scottie Thompson of Ginebra and former six-time winner June Mar Fajardo of San Miguel Beer are expected to show up in practice and lead the national team training pool that also includes the Kings’ Japeth Aguilar and Arvin Tolentino, and TNT’s Roger Pogoy and JP Erram.
Other PBA cagers invited were Calvin Oftana of the Tropang Giga, NorthPort’s Jamie Malonzo, Kevin Alas of NLEX and Meralco’s Chris Newsome, along with pool members Will Navarro, Francis Lopez, and Jordan Heading.
Reigning UAAP MVP Angelo Kouame of Ateneo, University of the Philippines’ Carl Tamayo, and Kevin Quiambao of La Salle were also named in the list released by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas.
The Philippine five is set to do battle on road matches against Jordan on Nov. 10 and Saudi Arabia three days later.
Fil-Am NBA standout Jordan Clarkson and prized 7-foot-3 big man Kai Sotto are likely unavailable due to their commitments with their squads.
The SBP is also working hard to add Ginebra do-it-all import Justin Brownlee and incoming TNT reinforcement Cameron Oliver as naturalized players in the pool that has Clarkson and the 6-foot-11 Kouame.
Cage body President Al Panlilio has already asked the Senate Committee on Sports to fast-track Brownlee and Oliver’s naturalization process.
