Gilas Pilipinas held its first practice since returning from its European trip with guys like Ray Parks, RR Pogoy and Calvin Oftana also rejoining the team on Thursday, July 13, at the Meralco Gym.

Dwight Ramos, Ray Parks, RR Pogoy and Calvin Oftana are returning from respective injuries (FIBA Photos)

The Nationals got a much-needed shot in the arm with the trio, who all missed the three-week trip to Estonia and Lithuania due to injuries, among the 16 players who showed up in the practice which kicked off Gilas’ preparations for its scheduled pocket tournament in China later this month.

Gilas is scheduled to play fellow World Cup-bound teams Iran, Lebanon and Senegal.

Parks and Oftana were already able to join the scrimmages while Pogoy only participated in the shooting drills as he’s still not fully recovered yet from a fractured pinky finger he sustained during the last PBA Governors’ Cup Finals

Players, who were part of the Gilas contingent that played a series of tuneup games in Europe, were also in attendance led by June Mar Fajardo, Japeth Aguilar, Jamie Malonzo and CJ Perez.

Thirdy and Kiefer Ravena, Poy Erram, Justin Brownlee, Ange Kouame, Chris Newsome, Rhenz Abando, Dwight Ramos and AJ Edu completed the crew while only Scottie Thompson who was part of the Europe trip, was not in attendance due to his hand injury.

Both Ramos and Edu seemed to be ready to go as well after also nursing some injuries during the Europe trip. The 6-foot-4 guard, who had to sit out the final stretch of Gilas tuneups due to a knee injury, was already cleared to join following results of his MRI tests.

Edu, for his part, is now also getting at the peak of his full health after being sidelined in all of Gilas’ previous tuneups due to an ankle injury. He is expected to participate in full scrimmages in the next few practices and hopefully finally see action in China.

Still yet to join the team for the 2023 FIBA World Cup are Jordan Heading, Kai Sotto and Jordan Clarkson.

Heading remains questionable due a nagging back injury while Sotto is expected to reunite with the team after his stint with the Orlando Magic in the NBA Summer League. The team is also still in talks with Clarkson’s camp as to when it can bring in the NBA guard in time for the China trip.