By Jonas Terrado
Gilas Pilipinas will have seven PBA players and five amateurs for its 2021 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers away match against Indonesia this Sunday in Jakarta.
Gilas Pilipinas after a recent practice. (Jonas Terrado)
Coach Mark Dickel named team captain Kiefer Ravena, CJ Perez, Poy Erram, Abu Tratter, Justin Chua, Roger Pogoy, Troy Rosario, Thirdy Ravena, Matt Nieto, Isaac Go, Juan Gomez de Liano and Dwight Ramos to the roster that will have a mixture of youth and experience.
Javee Mocon was the lone pro cager left out of the 12-man lineup but was included as a reserve along with Jaydee Tungcab and Rey Suerte.
“That was a difficult decision to make,” Dickel said after Wednesday’s practice, explaining the reason for Mocon’s non-inclusion. “But we felt like we just had cover with both Thirdy and with Dwight there kinda playing the same position.”
Chua, Nieto, Go, De Liano and Ramos will make their first major appearance for the national team as Gilas hopes to prevail in the match to be held at the Mahaka Arena in the Indonesian capital.Our #GilasPilipinas Men’s Team versus Indonesia for the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifier game this February 23 ! 🇵🇭 #LabanPilipinas #ParaSaBayan #SBP pic.twitter.com/FKKZ6V91AA
— SBP (@officialSBPinc) February 19, 2020
Kiefer Ravena, Perez, Erram, Tratter, Pogoy and Rosario, on the other hand, will bring their combined experiences in the major FIBA competitions and Southeast Asian Games which should play a role in Gilas' quest to beat Indonesia.
Dickel said that Gilas will hold two more practices before leaving for Jakarta Friday evening.
Gilas held scrimmages during Wednesday’s practice as the team continues to fine-tune its system before facing Indonesia