By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
Karl Dehesa and Santi Santillan are set to boost the Gilas Pilipinas 3×3 quartet as they start their preparations for the FIBA 3×3 Olympic Qualifying Tournament on May 26-30 in Graz, Austria.
The two household names are also part of the country’s top 10 players in the 3×3 scene and in fact have more experience than PBA’s CJ Perez and Moala Tautuaa in terms of international experience.
Joshua Munzon and Alvin Pasaol on the other hand will see themselves reuniting with their former Chooks-to-Go 3×3 buddies who were once teammates in representing the PH in various 3×3 competitions.
Chemistry problems won’t be an issue for the two recruits as both Dehesa and Santillan formed one of the toughest teams to beat in Balanga Chooks.
The trio, carrying the name Balanga Chooks, represented the country well in two legs of the FIBA 3×3 World Tour Masters.
“I think that us coming together in this bubble is gonna be really, really beneficial. So we’ll be able to actually apply what we’ve learned in our film sessions and do that in practice,” said Dehesa.
With weeks left before the squad wraps up their final preparations for the incoming FIBA OQT, Santillan and Dehesa vowed to give their all and do whatever is necessary to grab wins in the international limelight.
“Kung anuman ‘yung madagdag, ‘yung aggressiveness sa depensa, kasi iba na yung level pagdating sa Olympic. Kaya ganun ‘yung mga gagawin ko para makatulong sa team,” said Santillan.
