Collegiate lineup to spearhead Gilas for FIBA Asia qualifiers

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

 

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) just revealed their 16-man lineup that will try to help the Philippines move past the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers and advance to the next stage.

An unusual collegiate lineup was formed by SBP and not even a single PBA player was included due to their ongoing bubble in Pampanga.

Headlining the Gilas pool is 20-year-old Ivorian center from the Ateneo Blue Eagles, Ange Kouame, who is still waiting for his Filipino citizenship after a bill was passed to the Congress regarding his naturalization.

Anchoring the roster alongside the dominant UAAP center are UP Fighting Maroons superstar Kobe Paras, brothers Juan and Javi Gomez de Liaño, UAAP star Dave Ildefonso, and NCAA MVP Calvin Oftana.

The SBP released their lineup after the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging Infectious Diseases finally gave them the go-signal to resume their training and will need to hurry things up with only several weeks remaining before tournament kickoff.

Also included in the lineup are special Gilas draftees Isaac Go, Rey Suerte, Allyn Bulanadi, twins Mike and Matt Nieto, and Jaydee Tungcab.

Kemark Carino, Justine Baltazar, Dwight Ramos, and Will Navarro complete the lineup and will be the final roster for the November window of FIBA.