Gilas Pilipinas 3×3 will return to the Inspire Sports Academy on Friday for the final stretch of their preparation for the 2021 FIBA 3×3 Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
Top 3×3 player Joshua Munzon, no. 6 Karl Dehesa, no. 8 Santi Santillan, and 30th Southeast Asian Games gold medalists CJ Perez and Mo Tautuaa will re-enter the Calambubble while no. 2 Alvin Pasaol re-joins the team after missing the first half of the camp due to health and safety protocols.
This time around, Gilas 3×3 will get a chance to scrimmage as the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas invited three practice players in Malick Diouf, Tonino Gonzaga, and Agosto Flor.
“We are looking to simulate the opposition that the Gilas 3×3 National Team will face in the OQT,” said Gilas 3×3 head coach Ronnie Magsanoc.
“We also want to give our national players the chance to scrimmage with different combinations.”
Gonzaga and Flor also helped out Gilas 3×3 during the SEA Games.
Gonzaga, a 6-foot-1 forward, has vast 3×3 experience playing for Nueva Ecija in the pro league. Flor, on the other hand, is a lanky 6-foot-2 guard who has been a loyal soldier for Magsanoc.
Diouf, meanwhile, is University of the Philippines’ Senegalese student-athlete. He stands at 6-foot-10.
Diouf, Gonzaga, and Diouf, along with Dehesa and Santillan, will look to simulate the plays of the country’s poolmates in the global meet set from May 26-30 — namely Slovenia, France, Qatar, and the Dominican Republic.
With this, grateful is Magsanoc and the SBP to the three practice players for making a sacrifice to help out the national team.
“The SBP is grateful for the time, effort, and sacrifice that the national team practice players are willing to give to help the country in its bid to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics,” said Magsanoc, who has Moriah Gingerich as his assistant coach.
“We cannot thank them enough for their valuable contribution to flag and country.”
