A 13-member Gilas Pilipinas national men’s basketball team left Tuesday night for Amman, Jordan to see action in Window Five of the 2023 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.
They left without one of their key players, Kiefer Ravena, who had an emergency following dental procedure on his impacted wisdom tooth.
Adelaide’s Kai Sotto and Ateneo de Manila University’s Angelo Kouame will catch up with the squad in Amman. Kouame needed to attend his classes in Ateneo.
Gilas will initially prepare for their games against Jordan and Saudi Arabia this week with San-En’s Thirdy Ravena, Nagoya’s Bobby Ray Parks Jr., Hokkaido’s Dwight Ramos and La Salle’s Kevin Quiambao.
Players from the Philippine Basketball Association have beefed up the roster.
Ginebra’s Scottie Thompson joined the practices with teammates Japeth Aguilar and Jamie Malonzo; CJ Perez of San Miguel Beer; and TNT’s Roger Pogoy, Calvin Oftana and Poy Erram.
Northport’s William Navarro and Arvin Tolentino and free agent Francis Lopez were cut from the lineup.
Also not included due to injuries were San Miguel’s June Mar Fajardo, Meralco’s Chris Newsome and University of the Philippines’ Carl Tamayo.
Gilas, which currently has a 3-3 win-loss record, will open its campaign in the fifth window against Jordan on Thursday, Nov. 10 (early Friday morning, Manila time)
After that, they fly to Jeddah for their Nov. 13 match against Saudi Arabia.
