NLEX secures Gilas Pilipinas cadet Jaydee Tungcab after release

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Gilas Pilipinas young cadet Jaydee Tungcab is set to make his debut with his PBA mother team TNT Tropang Giga in the next conference of the league after the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) confirmed his release.

Tungcab was part of the historic Gilas pool that swept the mighty Korean national team during the previous FIBA Asia qualifiers window and was the squad’s backup swingman in the Manama bubble.

It was Tropang Giga’s head coach Chot Reyes who confirmed the news about Tungcab and added that the product of the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons is already training with the team.

With Roger Pogoy and TNT’s other swingmen yet to go back to 100% due to the injuries they suffered during the ongoing PBA Governor’s Cup, Tungcab’s services will be badly needed by the Tropang Giga in the next conference.

Tungcab was selected fourth overall during the 2021 PBA special batch of draftees who were loaned to the SBP for national team duties.

Meanwhile, Tzaddy Rangel, Tungcab’s teammate with Gilas Pilipinas, is also making his way to his mother team NLEX Road Warriors.

SBP confirmed that they have already approved the release of Rangel and is now eligible to play for the Road Warriors this coming PBA conference.

Both Tungcab and Rangel represented Gilas Pilipinas during the recent FIBA Asia qualifiers February window held in the Philippines.