Six young players, who played when the Gilas Pilipinas national men’s basketball team was still under head coach Tab Baldwin, are coming back.
Dwight Ramos, who is now playing with Toyama Grouses in the Japanese tournament B.League, is one of the returnees.
He arrived Friday night and is set to rejoin Gilas, which is now coached by Chot Reyes and reinforced by stalwarts of the Talk ‘N Text Tropang Giga.
Ramos left Japan after the Grouses played against the Shimane Susanoo Magic on Wednesday and is expected to report for duty in time for Saturday’s scheduled scrimmages, as soon as he gets his clearance to enter the practice bubble of Gilas.
His Gilas teammates Angelo Kouame, Tzaddy Rangel, William Navarro, JD Tungcab, Javi de Liano have already joined the training camp, which is now run by Reyes and his coaching staff.
Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Al Panlilio confirmed the presence of the said players following a meeting with Philippine Basketball Association chairman Ricky Vargas and commissioner Willie Marcial.
“These are the players available and Dwight Ramos is set to arrive tonight (Friday) and join them tomorrow. We’ll have to identify who in the TNT team will complement these players,” said Panlilio.
The SBP chief was informed by Vargas and Marcial that the PBA opens on Feb. 11 and will adjust without TNT on its schedule when the February window of the FIBA World 2023 gets going at the Smart Araneta Coliseum starting Feb. 24.
Reyes was reappointed as head coach of the Gilas Pilipinas national men’s basketball team last Feb. 1, replacing Baldwin.
The SBP chief said they found no substance in rumors that the former coach had been acting as agent for Gilas players in their stints abroad for club teams.
Discussions are now ongoing if Reyes will become the SBP’s Gilas program director, too.
“Let’s just give a chance (for Reyes) to coach the February window first,” said Panlilio, who added Reyes is being considered for the job since he will be running the national team’s activities through programs that he will craft.
Gilas plays South Korea on Feb. 24, India on Feb. 25 and New Zealand on Feb. 27.
The next window will start in June, with the Philippines facing India on the 30th and New Zealand on July 3.
Reyes will now have two jobs, first with TNT Tropang Giga and the other one with the national team.
As for Baldwin, he will be focusing his energies on his responsibilities with the Ateneo men’s basketball team, which will defend its crown when the coming season of the UAAP cagefest finally comes back.