Fourteen Gilas players will make the trip to the Middle East tonight as they compete in Window Five of the 2023 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.
Headlining the squad are Adelaide’s Kai Sotto and Ateneo de Manila University’s Angelo Kouame.
Sotto will join the team in Amman, Jordan.
Meanwhile, Kouame skipped the training team’s final workout in Pasig. The 6-foot-10 center from Ateneo attended his classes but will join the rest of the team from departing.
Also part of the pool that will go up against Jordan and Saudi Arabia this week are San-En’s Thirdy Ravena, Nagoya’s Bobby Ray Parks Jr., Hokkaido’s Dwight Ramos, and La Salle’s Kevin Quiambao.
The PBA stars who were included in the pool are Ginebra’s Scottie Thompson, Japeth Aguilar, and Jamie Malonzo; CJ Perez of San Miguel Beer; and TNT’s Roger Pogoy, Calvin Oftana, and Poy Erram.
Cut were Northport’s William Navarro and Arvin Tolentino; and free agent Francis Lopez.
SBP president Al Panlilio and PBA commissioner Willie Marcial dropped by Gilas’ final practice and wished the national team the best of luck in the fifth window.
Begging off due to injuries were San Miguel’s June Mar Fajardo, Shiga’s Kiefer Ravena, Meralco’s Chris Newsome, and UP’s Carl Tamayo.
