CALAMBA, LAGUNA — Gilas Pilipinas is finally complete.
Thirteen days before the second window of the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers, Kobe Paras finally arrived in Inspire Sports Academy, Saturday.
According to team insiders, the 23-year-old had a dental procedure done. He should have arrived last Thursday, but his appointment with his dentist was postponed to Friday.
“We’re counting on him in terms of veteran leadership. Of course, his track record is also exemplary, having represented our country in a lot of international competition,” Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas Special Assistant to the President Ryan Gregorio told 2OT about the 6-foot-6 forward.
This completes the Gilas cast as Isaac Go, the Nieto twins, Rey Suerte, Allyn Bulanadi, Jaydee Tungcab, the Gomez de Liaño brothers, Dwight Ramos, Justine Baltazar, Dave Ildefonso, Angelo Kouame, William Navarro, Calvin Oftana, and Kemark Carino are all inside the state-of-the-art structure.
Saturday was a rest day for Gilas after a hard first day of practice, facilitated by Gilas program director Tab Baldwin.
Also joining him are Jong Uichico, Boyet Fernandez, Alton Lister, Sandro Soriano, and Andrei Tolentino.
Gilas will depart on either the 22nd or the 23rd. The trip from Manila to Manama takes nine hours.
Gilas face South Korea on the 28th, then Thailand again on the 30th inside a bubble in Manama, Bahrain.
