Besides Kobe Paras, another 23 for 2023 Gilas Pilipinas cadet will be coming back home.
Coach Chot Reyes revealed on Thursday evening that 6-foot-7, 225-pound Filipino-American Troy Rike is set to arrive in the country after his graduation from Wake Forest University in May.
“Troy Rike is having his graduation on May and he will join us afterwards,” Reyes shared prior to the start of the 23 for 2023 cadets’ practice.
Rike is currently finishing his degree in Wake Forest while playing for all of his four years. However, he only played just nine games during his senior year, totaling just seven points.
Still, the staff of Gilas wants to see what he can bring to the team, as the Nationals are expected to field him immediately in the 2018 Filoil Flying V Preseason Premier Cup.
“I think Troy Rike will make it. It’s only a question of when,” the veteran strategist commented.
Beyond his skillset, what Reyes and his staff are looking at is his — and the team’s — attitude when it comes to playing in a game.
“We wanted to take a look at the guys. Aside from their playing ability, we want to see their attitude,” he said.
“What better way to see that than in a playing situation.”
With the 2023 FIBA World Cup still five years away, it’s better to start developing the players now than later.
