Gilas Pilipinas Boys have strengthened their frontline ahead of the FIBA Under-18 Asian Championship by adding Kurl Figueroa and Allen Perez to their lineup.
The Philippines will face Indonesia on Monday, host Jordan on Wednesday, and New Zealand later that day in the continental championship in Amman.
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Kurl Figueroa, the younger brother of Jake Figueroa, is a 6-foot-4 power forward from National University Nazareth School.
Meanwhile, Perez is a 6-foot-7 big man from Adamson University.
The two replaced Justin Hunter and Hans Castillejos from the SEABA team.
Holdovers from the team that dominated the SEABA championship a month ago include key players like Andy Gemao and Wacky Ludovice.
Joining them are Adamson’s Earl Medina and Mark Esperanza; FEU-Diliman’s Cabs Cabonillas and Marc Burgos; UST’s Carl Manding and Charles Esteban; UE’s Drei Lorenzo; and former Ateneo Blue Eagle Jericho Santos.
The team will be coached by Josh Reyes.
The top three teams in each of the four groups will advance to the playoffs, with the top seed gaining an automatic berth in the quarterfinals.
The top four teams will qualify to represent FIBA Asia in the 2025 FIBA Under-19 Basketball World Cup in Switzerland.
In 2022, the Philippines finished in sixth place.
