The top PBA 3×3 players banner the 15-man Gilas Pilipinas pool for the 2022 FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup on July 6-10 at the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore.
Reigning scoring king Almond Vosotros of TNT, Meralco lead guard Tonino Gonzaga; Purefoods star Joseph Eriobu; and Limitless App main man Jorey Napoles are some of the notable names in the roster released Sunday.
“We have approval from the PBA already and we will start to meet/practice [with] everyone bukas,” PBA 3×3 chairman Dickie Bachmann told Tiebreaker Times.
Also part of the pool are the Tropang Giga tandem of Samboy de Leon and Lervin Flores; Bolts big man Alfred Batino; Appmasters playmaker Reymar Caduyac; San Miguel’s Jeff Manday; and Ginebra’s Leo De Vera.
Christian Rivera and Gian Abrigo of Second Conference champion Pioneer; Chris De Chavez of Platinum Karaoke; Tender Juicy Titans’ Jed Mendoza; and Limitless’ new guy Simon Camacho complete the cast.
Gilas 3×3 also has a pool of coaches, led by ProTibay chief mentor Lester Del Rosario. Joining him are Mau Belen of TNT, Meralco’s Patrick Fran, and Willy Wilson of Limitless – teams that have won multiple legs in the league.
Two of those strategists will be chosen to train the final lineup that will feature four players and two reserves, according to Bachmann.
Gilas 3×3 is pressed for time in going full-blast for its build-up towards the continental meet. PBA 3×3 will hold its sixth leg on June 25-26 and its Grand Finals on July 3 – both taking place at the Robinsons Place Manila in Ermita.
Adding another challenge is the fact that the Philippines isn’t assured of a spot in the main draw. The Nationals will have to top the qualifying draw first, where it will take on more experienced nations in Indonesia and Jordan.
This will mark the country’s return to the Asia Cup 3×3 since the tournament’s inception in 2013. It did not take part in 2017 and 2018.
