Gilas Pilipinas has trimmed their pool down to just 13 players ahead of the eligibility meeting for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023.
Absent from the Philippines’ Tuesday practice at the Philsports Arena were Thirdy Ravena, Bobby Ray Parks Jr, and Calvin Oftana.
Parks, the Asian import for Nagoya, did not participate in Gilas’ official World Cup preparation games against Ivory Coast, Montenegro, and Mexico.
Meanwhile, Ravena had not been suiting up for Gilas since their final game in the Heyuan WUS International Basketball Tournament.
Oftana alternated slots with Chris Newsome during the first two tune-up games held at the same venue.
During this cycle, Parks played in six Asian Qualifiers games while Ravena and Oftana were fielded in five.
Both Ravena and Oftana also took part in the Asia Cup qualifiers.
Soon-to-be three-time World Cup participants June Mar Fajardo and Japeth Aguilar, along with the designated naturalized player Jordan Clarkson banner the players present.
Also present in the open practice were Kiefer Ravena, Dwight Ramos, Scottie Thompson, Kai Sotto, AJ Edu, Jamie Malonzo, Roger Pogoy, Rhenz Abando, and Newsome.
Gilas will hold practice at the SMART Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, two days before they face the Dominican Republic at the Philippine Arena.
