Mike Nieto will continue as a full-time Gilas Pilipinas Cadet for this year.
The 6-foot-2 guard out of Ateneo de Manila University has signed a fresh one-year extension with the program, Sunday afternoon.
This means that Nieto, 23, will continue on loan from Rain or Shine as part of the national team for the rest of the year.
The Elasto Painters picked Nieto in fifth in the special Gilas part of the 2019 PBA Rookie Draft.
Nieto made his Gilas debut during the Manama window of the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers. He tallied eight points, two assists, and a rebound in the Philippines’ 93-69 win over Thailand back on November 27.
Nieto is part of the Gilas Pilipinas pool for the Clark window that is currently training in Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba, Laguna.
With this signing, the Nieto twins Mike and Matt (NLEX); Isaac Go (Terrafirma); and Rey Suerte (Blackwater) will still be with Gilas for the remainder of the year unless the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas gives them back to their mother teams.
Allyn Bulanadi of Alaska is still in talks with both the federation and the Aces.