It was not just CJ Perez who arrived at Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba, Laguna last Friday.
Justin Chua also arrived at the same time Perez did as his sister draft him off there.
The 31-year-old Ateneo product reunites with his former Ateneo head coach Norman Black in the bubble.
This will mark Chua’s return to the Gilas as he made his national team debut against Indonesia during the first window of the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers. The 6-foot-6 big man had six points and three rebounds against Indonesia last February.
Many credit Chua’s performance in the PBA bubble due to his stint with Gilas.
During the 2020 PBA Philippine Cup, Chua normed 13.18 points, 6.82 rebounds, and a league-high 1.73 blocks per game.
Chua and Phoenix left the Clark last November 28.
The players inside the Calambubble is now at 14. Besides Chua and Perez also inside are Kiefer Ravena, Isaac Go, Matt Nieto, Mike Nieto, Rey Suerte, Javi Gomez de Liaño, Dave Ildefonso, Justine Baltazar, Calvin Oftana, William Navarro, and Kemark Carino. Angelo Kouame is also helping out the team.
Gilas take on South Korea on February 18, Indonesia on the 20th, and Korea again on the 22nd in Clark.
