Gilas contingent for FIBA Asia Challenge Cup named

The final line-up of Gilas Pilipinas 5.0 for the upcoming FIBA Asia Challenge Cup 2016 has been revealed.

The Gilas Pilipinas players were named on Wednesday evening, August 24, after the Nationals’ tune-up match against the Far Eastern University, which they won narrowly, 84-77.

The roster contains 14 players from the initial 24-man pool and will fly to Tehran, Iran on September 6 for the annual cagefest, which will take place from September 9-18.

Leading Team Pilipinas’ campaign are the Gilas Cadets mainstays, comprised of former FEU Tamaraws and Phoenix Accelerators’ Mike Tolomia, Mac Belo, RR Pogoy, and Russel Escoto; former University of Santo Tomas King Tiger and Tanduay forward Kevin Ferrer; Ateneo de Manila University guard Von Pessumal; and Blackwater Elite’s Almond Vosotros.

The seven veterans will be supported by seven other first-timers, who have all played in the UAAP, NCAA, and the PBA D-League.

The new acquisitions include Alfonzo Gotladera, formerly from Ateneo and now with the Tanduay Rhum Masters; CJ Perez from Lyceum; De La Salle University alumnus Arnold Van Opstal; former Tamaraw and Café France Bakers forward Carl Cruz; Racal Tile Masters’ Chris Javier and Jonathan Grey; and UST and Phoenix standout Ed Daquioag, who is also a guard for the Phoenix Accelerators.

The final line-up will have its first practice as a team on Friday, August 26, at the Meralco Gym in Pasig City.

Gilas Pilipinas 5.0 Line-up (FIBA Asia Challenge Cup 2016):

C – Arnold Van Opstal

C/PF – Russel Escoto
C/PF – Alfonzo Gotladera

PF – Chris Javier
PF – Carl Cruz
PF/SF – Rey Mark Belo

SF/PF – Kevin Ferrer
SF/SG – Jonathan Grey
SF/SG – Eduardo Daquioag

SG – Roger Ray Pogoy
SG – Von Pessumal

G – Cris Michael Tolomia
G – Jaymar Perez

G – Almond Vosotros