FIBA includes Roger Pogoy in Asia’s most improved players list

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

 

Gilas Pilipinas’ shooting-guard Roger Pogoy was among the seven most improved players in Asia ranked by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA).

The 6’2’’ shooter was one of the most consistent scorers in the Gilas roster since 2017, and his stats were the basis on why FIBA put him in Asia’s top 7 most improved player.

During the 2017 FIBA Asia Cup, Pogoy only averaged 7.0 points and 3.5 rebounds per contest that shot up to an impressive 16 points and 6 rebounds in 22.8 minutes in the first window of the FIBA qualifiers.

Pogoy proved to be one of the steadiest defenders and reliable three-point shooters in the blue and white after suiting up in almost every FIBA qualifier up to the World Cup.

FIBA.com described Pogoy “as a solid defensive wing who can score in multiple ways, Pogoy has been valuable to Gilas. Alongside veteran teammates with bigger roles like Jayson Castro, Pogoy has done well in plugging as a role player.”

“Playing with a younger squad at the Qualifiers, the national team needed him to shoulder a bit more of the load and Pogoy responded with an efficient scoring game.”

Pogoy joins Muin Bek Hafeez of India, Hassan Abdullah of Iraq, Abdulwahab Alhamwi of Syria, Maxim Marchuk of Kazakhstan, Jordan Ngatai of New Zealand, and Abdelrahman Yehia of Qatar in the most improved players list.