By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
The Gilas Pilipinas men’s national basketball team just revealed their 15-man pool for the upcoming second window of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers.
Fresh off an impressive performance during their quest for a Paris Olympics ticket, Gilas Pilipinas is set to return to the hardwood and will seek to re-assert their dominance in the basketball scene in Asia.
In an official update made by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP), Gilas Pilipinas already unveiled the 15 brave Filipino hoopers that will represent the country on the FIBA stage.
Leading the list of the selected members is Justin Brownlee, the national team’s resident naturalized player who is coming off a championship stint with the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings in the recently concluded PBA Governor’s Cup.
Despite the exhausting schedule with only almost two weeks of rest, Brownlee will lead the team when they kick off their official practice session together with their head coach Tim Cone.
Also included in the pool is one of the longest-tenured players wearing the national team jersey, the PBA’s only eight-time Most Valuable Player (MVP), June Mar Fajardo.
Backstopping Fajardo in the paint are mainstays from Gilas’ past FIBA World Cup roster, AJ Edu, Kai Sotto, and Japeth Aguilar.
Players from the Japan B. League are also making their return to the national team, with Dwight Ramos heeding the call alongside Carl Tamayo.
Completing Gilas’ 15-man pool are Mason Amos, Ange Kouame, Jamie Malonzo, Chris Newsome, Calvin Oftana, CJ Perez, Kevin Quiambao, and Scottie Thompson.
Gilas will kick off their FIBA campaign on November 21, 2024, and will face the tough New Zealand national team, to be held at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
After their matchup against New Zealand, Gilas will then take on Hong Kong on November 24, 2024, their last game of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers second window.
