Despite having just two years of experience in the sport, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas has named federation 3×3 program director Ronnie Magsanoc as the head coach of the national team bound for the 2020 FIBA 3X3 Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
The tournament takes place from March 18 to 22 in India.
Magsanoc — who has only been in 3×3 in 2018 — was the head coach of Gilas Pilipinas 3×3 that won gold in the Southeast Asian Games.
Prior to this, he went winless in the 2018 FIBA 3X3 Shanghai Challenger, while failing to advance to the playoffs of the 2018 FIBA 3×3 U23 World Cup. In the open 2019 FIBA 3X3 Asia Cup, the team composed of high schoolers did not make it to the main draw.
The national team pool has been training since December for the global meet under the tutelage of Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3 commissioner Eric Altamirano; Liman ace and China head coach Stefan Stojacic; and Serbian strength and conditioning coach Darko Krsman.
Four of the players in the six-man roster will have to be in the top 10 of the country’s rankings.
The Philippines is grouped in Pool C with Slovenia, France, Qatar, and Dominican Republic. Only three nations will advance to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
