Ever since Yeng Guiao took over the Gilas Pilipinas Men’s program back in August of last year, he has made sure to have a young player in the team.
In the fifth window of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers, the decorated mentor added Ricci Rivero and Kai Sotto to the pool. In the final window, he added Thirdy Ravena to the squad.
Only Ravena was part of the squad during games, playing against both Qatar and Kazakhstan.
“Actually we are keenly observing yung youth team namin,” Guiao said. “Kasi ako naman, every window ng FIBA, we always had an investment in our future.
“Baka pwede isang slot din ibigay natin doon sa whoever is going to do well sa Under-19 natin.”
For the World Cup proper this August in China, Guiao is looking to add another Gilas youth player to the pool.
“AJ [Edu] and Kai. We’re open to that. Added experience sa kanila yun.”
Edu currently plays for the University of Toledo. Meanwhile, Sotto has been training abroad for the last two months.
The two big men are currently in the country as part of Gilas Pilipinas Youth for the 2019 FIBA Under-19 World Cup. The tournament takes place from June 29 to July 7 in Heraklion, Greece.
Guiao wants the 7-foot-1 Sotto and 6-foot-11 Edu to return to the country after the global meet so that they could at least train with the seniors’ squad.
