By: Jan Marcus Montevirgen
As the eFIBA Season 3 World Finals draws near, eGilas Pilipinas head coach Nite Alparas remains focused on his team’s preparations for the prestigious NBA 2K25 international tournament.
Despite being ranked No. 2 in the pre-tournament power rankings, Alparas emphasized that the team’s sights are set firmly on the championship.
After a fourth-place finish in last year’s World Finals, where eGilas fell 0-2 to Turkiye in the battle-for-third, Alparas is determined to elevate the team’s performance this year.
He remains cautious about the rankings and is instead prioritizing a step-by-step approach to success.
“Honestly, right now, I am not looking at the rankings kase nga ang daming nagsasabi ng Top 2 [ang Pilipinas]. So far, nagfo-focus kami like ang goal lang talaga namin ngayon is to win the championship. Hindi namin iniisip kung pang-ilan lang ba kami. We’re taking it one step at a time,” Alparas shared in an exclusive interview with Tiebreaker Times and Smart Sports.
“Iniisip namin yung groups ngayon, kung sino yung mga kalaban namin, and hopefully ma-sweep namin yung group stage and makaabot tayo sa finals.”
The tournament, slated for December 11-12 at the SMX Clark Convention Center in Pampanga, presents a unique opportunity for the Philippines as the host nation.
Alparas believes that his team is ready to compete at the highest level and has been working tirelessly to ensure they perform well on home soil.
“Sa team, meron pa rin kaming tournaments na nilalaruan right now and matinding preparation kase alam naman natin [na] host country tayo. Gusto namin makuha yung championship and mapakita sa buong mundo na kaya natin,” he said.
The road to assembling the eGilas roster was a rigorous process.
Tryouts invited the top 25 players in the country, who then participated in various tournaments to test their skills, compatibility, and teamwork.
Over two months, Alparas and his coaching staff meticulously evaluated the candidates, ultimately narrowing the roster to five standout players: Isaiah “Ice2Fast” Alindada, Kenneth “Clue” Gutierrez, Julian “Social” Mallillin, Prich “DonPriich” Diez, and Lynard “ZavaLCB” Banzon.
Hosting the eFIBA World Finals for the first time adds an extra layer of excitement for Alparas and his team. He is optimistic about the homecourt advantage, highlighting the unwavering support of Filipino fans, whether in esports or traditional sports.
“‘Yun yung exciting na part kase siyempre alam natin na kapag homecourt ng Pilipinas or kapag dito nilalaro yung mga games lalo na sa Gilas, parang yung crowd, iba yung suporta ng Pinoy eh,” he noted.
“Lalo na kung esports man ‘yan or basketball man ‘yan, yung support ng Filipino nandyan talaga yan. So parang mararamdaman mo na may added boost or energy sa team lalo na kapag dito nilalaro.”
With high hopes and relentless preparation, eGilas Pilipinas is ready to rise to the challenge and bring glory to the country on the global esports stage.
