Gilas Pilipinas will take on visiting World Cup teams in a series of tune-up games behind closed doors prior to the opening battles in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023.
The Filipino squad, bannered by naturalized player Jordan Clarkson of the Utah Jazz, meets Ivory Coast on Friday (Aug. 18), Mexico on Sunday (Aug. 20), and Montenegro on Monday (Aug. 21), before battling the Dominican Republic on opening day on Aug. 25 at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.
Admitting that he has a “difficult decision” to make, Gilas mentor Chot Reyes said the final line-up will be announced after the tune-up games, or on the day of the opening.
From the original 21, the pool members’ list was trimmed to 16, which includes Roger Pogoy, Rhenz Abando, Dwight Ramos, Kai Sotto, June Mar Fajardo, Japeth Aguilar, Scottie Thompson, Jamie Malonzo, CJ Perez, Bobby Ray Parks, Chris Newsome, Calvin Oftana, AJ Edu, Kiefer and Thirdy Ravena, and Clarkson.
“It is a big source of stress for me, obviously, because we have to make some difficult decisions. These guys have been with us from way, way back,” said Reyes in a previous media interview.
If only Reyes could keep them all, he said “Right now, our team is set. As far as I’m concerned this is the team. This is our team.”
Since arriving from a mini-tournament in China two weeks ago, the Gilas pool has been in closed-door practice sessions, out of the public’s and media’s prying eyes.
Information about the team’s activities is derived from either unofficial sources or the official pages of the players. From time to time, Reyes grants interviews to select media.
The players were also advised to refrain from posting on their social media accounts.
Understandably, Reyes would want to keep the team’s plans and developments under wraps to keep the opponents from scouting the Gilas team in its bid to emerge as the best Asian performer and gain a slot in the Paris 2024 Olympics
