Andy Gemao will be returning to national team duties as he looks to lead Gilas Pilipinas Boys in the SEABA qualifiers for the FIBA Under-18 Asian Championship 2024.
The tournament will take place from July 19 to 24 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Gemao is a 6-foot-1 highflyer who is currently with Veritas Academy. He last suited up for Gilas during the 2022 edition of the FIBA U16 Asian Championship held in Qatar.
(C) FIBA.basketball
Also seen as one of the leaders of the team is Wacky Ludovice of University of Santo Tomas.
Ludovice, a 5-foot-9 sniper, is coming off an impressive stint in the FIBA Under-17 World Cup,
Joining them are new faces coming from different UAAP schools.
Defending UAAP High School Boys’ Basketball champion Adamson has loaned Earl Medina and Mark Esperanza to the team.
Far Eastern University-Diliman will be represented by Cabs Cabonillas, Hans Castillejos, and Marc Burgos.
Carl Manding and Charles Esteban of the Tiger Cubs were also called up.
Completing the squad are Drei Lorenzo of San Beda, former Ateneo Blue Eagle Jericho Santos, and Atlantic Shores Christian High School’s Justin Hunter.
The team will be coached by Josh Reyes.
Initially part of the lineup was Kieffer Alas but he sustained a sprained ACL injury during the U17 World Cup in Turkey.
Lebron Jhames Daep was invited to the pool but had school commitments with University of Perpetual Help System DALTA.
The Philippines takes on Malaysia on July 19, Thailand on July 20, and Indonesia on July 21. The winner of the tournament will advance to the FIBA U18 Asia Cup next month in Amman, Jordan.
