AMATEUR standouts Joshua Munzon and Alvin Pasaol, along with pros CJ Perez and Mo Tautuaa, make up the Philippine quartet that will see action in the FIBA 3×3 Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Bengaluru, India.
The 6-foot-4 Munzon and Pasaol, a former University of the East star, are ranked No. 1 and No. 2, respectively in 3×3 play in the country.
Perez and the 6-foot-8 Tautuaa, both unranked in FIBA 3×3, were members of the gold-medal winning 3×3 team, along with Chris Newsome and Jason Perkins, in the 30th Southeast Asian Games last December.
Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Al Panlilio announced the selection of the final four players for the OQT as recommended by the SBP Selection Committee chaired by executive director Sonny Barrios, with coaches Jong Uichico, Pat Aquino, Ronnie Magsanoc and Eric Altamirano as members.
“It is an honor for the Philippines to be with the top 20 countries vying for seats at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. We ask our countrymen to rally behind our team in its quest to be part of the Olympiad,” the SBP said.
Serbian coach Stefan Stojajic and conditioning coach Darko Krsman are overseeing the progress of the team for the March 18 -22 joust.
There are 20 confirmed participating teams — four pools of five teams each, with the top two teams from each pool advancing to the playoffs and the top three squads clinching slots to the Tokyo Olympics set in August.
