Gilas Pilipinas returns to Monday practices for February window
Gilas Pilipinas is set to return to its regular once-a-week Monday practices as it gears up for the final window of the FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers against Lebanon and Jordan on Feb. 25 and 28 respectively.

Although assured of a spot in the 2023 FIBA World Cup being the host, Gilas is going all out as it hopes to end the qualifiers strong and win in front of an expected good-sized crowd at the Philippine Arena.
Just like in the last window, players from San Miguel, TNT and Ginebra are set to be tapped to compose the pool with all of the three teams not scheduled to play in the 2023 PBA Governors’ Cup from Feb. 20 to Mar. 1 as per the schedule released by the league.
No official pool has been released yet by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas but the previous pool included CJ Perez and June Mar Fajardo from the Beermen, RR Pogoy, JP Erram, Calvin Oftana from the Tropang Giga and Scottie Thompson, Japeth Aguilar and Jamie Malonzo from the Kings.
Ginebra resident import Justin Brownlee is also expected to suit up for the national team as a naturalized player for the first time although he is still in the middle of securing his documents including his Philippine passport to become eligible to play.
Japan-based Gilas members are also likely available for the final window with the B.League also taking a break to give way for their own national team. It will not hold any games from Feb. 12 to Mar. 8. Kiefer and Thirdy Ravena, Ray Parks Jr, and Dwight Ramos were all part of the pool from the previous window.
It’s also still unclear whether Kai Sotto will be available for the qualifiers, especially should Adelaide go deep into the Australia NBL season with the playoffs also set in February and with no exact playing dates announced yet. The 36ers, however, are currently outside the playoff picture sitting at the eighth spot of the standings with an 11-13 record and in the middle of a four-game slump.
Aside from the members of the previous pool, players outside the three PBA teams are also being eyed while collegiate stars in La Salle’s Deschon Winston and Adamson’s Jerom Lastimosa are also reportedly invited to the pool.