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Alas, Oftana, Malonzo new faces in Gilas pool; Sangalang, Jalalon added

Sports | Basketball

Alas, Oftana, Malonzo new faces in Gilas pool; Sangalang, Jalalon added

By Reynald I. Magallon

A couple of new faces had joined the first Gilas Pilipinas practice which was held behind closed doors at the Meralco Gym in Pasig City, Monday night, Aug. 15

Calvin Oftana (Photo from PBA)

NLEX stars Kevin Alas and Calvin Oftana along with NorthPort's Jamie Malonzo were in attendance and joined Gilas mainstays Carl Tamayo, Kevin Quiambao, and Francis Lopez, together with B.League imports Kiefer and Thirdy Ravena, Dwight Ramos and Ray Parks Jr. in the national team pool training which was facilitated by head coach Chot Reyes.

Also present in the practice session are Gilas deputies Ginebra coach Tim Cone and Josh Reyes.

Reportedly invited to the training pool were Magnolia's Ian Sangalang and Jio Jalalon who both played for the national team in the past. The two were added to the Gilas pool after the Hotshots got eliminated by the TNT Tropang Giga in the Philippine Cup semis last Sunday.

More players are also expected to come in and join the team especially once the the semifinals showdown between San Miguel and Meralco concludes on Wednesday.

Bannering Gilas for the fourth window of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers are 7-foot-3 center Kai Sotto and Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson. Sotto is arriving on Thursday while Clarkson follows suit the next day.

Gilas will take on FIBA Asia Cup 2022 silver medalist Lebanon on the road in Beirut on Aug. 25 before facing Saudi Arabi at home at the Mall of Asia Arena on Aug. 29.

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas Executive Director and Spokesperson Sonny Barrios dropped by the first day of training which featured shooting drills with several variations and fast ball movement, with Cone, a two-time grand slam champion coach in the PBA, providing inputs.

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