Kiefer Ravena was the sole PBA player inside Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba, Laguna, on Sunday.
Joining him were 2019 PBA Rookie Draft selections Isaac Go, Matt Nieto, Mike Nieto, and Rey Suerte; and cadets Javi Gomez de Liaño, Dave Ildefonso, Justine Baltazar, Calvin Oftana, William Navarro, and Kemark Carino.
For the next 12 days, Ravena will be the elder statesman in the first batch. The rest of the PBA contingent will only arrive on January 22.
“As always, we appreciate the unwavering support of PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial and the PBA Board to the Gilas program,” said SBP President Al Panlilio.
“We had very good discussions with the PBA, and we were able to get the commitment of several PBA players who will be part of the second batch coming into the bubble training on January 22.”
Last January 2, the league received the Federation’s wishlist for the final window of the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers, which takes place from February 18 to 22.
Both the SBP and the PBA have yet to unveil the names of the pros requested by the federation.
Currently, PBA players are on break, since the players just came off a two-month bubble from October to December for the 46th season of the league.
Cadets unable to make the final window are Allyn Bulanadi and Jaydee Tungcab. Bulanadi is set for surgery to repair his dislocated right shoulder, while Tungcab is waiting for his Japanese visa since he will play for B.League Division II team Koshigaya Alphas.
Gilas take on South Korea on February 18, Indonesia on the 20th, and Korea again on the 22nd in Clark.
