Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 4) – Six Gilas Pilipinas cadets have been selected to the training bubble for the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup qualifiers later this month.
Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Al Panlilio announced on Friday that Angelo Kouame, Tzaddy Rangel, Will Navarro, Jaydee Tungcab, and Juan Gomez de Liano have entered the training bubble for the World Cup qualifying games set on Feb. 24 to 28 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
Spitfire guard Dwight Ramos, who plays for the Toyama Grouses at the Japan B.League, will arrive in the country on Friday night to join the other Gilas cadets in the training camp, Panlilio added.
Ramos, Kouame, and Navarro are part of the Tab Baldwin-coached Gilas squad that swept its four 2022 FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers games last June in Angeles City, Pampanga.
Tungcab and de Liano, who are both products of the University of the Philippines, last played for Gilas in the first two games of the 2022 FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers on November 2020 at Manama, Bahrain.
The six Gilas cadets are expected to join the TNT Tropang Giga players that will be selected by returning national team mentor Chot Reyes for the qualifying matches.
Gilas will face South Korea twice on Feb. 24 and 28, while they will battle India on Feb. 25 and New Zealand on Feb. 27.
Meanwhile, five Gilas cadets decided to go pro in the PBA.
The first among the five cagers to formally sign a contract is now Rain or Shine guard Mike Nieto, who inked a two-year deal with the Chris Gavina-mentored team.
His brother Matt has reportedly agreed in principle to a contract with the NLEX Road Warriors.
The other three Gilas cadets who took their talents to the PBA, but have yet to secure a commitment with any team, are burly big man Isaac Go and guards Rey Suerte and Allyn Bulanadi.
The five players are part of the 2019 PBA Special Draft for Gilas cadets.
