Rookie pros make Gilas cut

Robert Bolick, Kiefer Ravena and CJ Perez were named to the final roster of Gilas Pilipinas that will see action in the FIBA Basketball World Cup that begins this weekend at the Foshan International and Cultural Center in Foshan, China.

Gilas head coach Yeng Guiao admitted that forming the national squad was never easy, especially since the Philippine Basketball Association practically made everybody available to represent the country in this prestigious 32-nation tournament serving as a qualifier for the Tokyo Olympics next year.

Guiao said Bolick, Ravena and Perez have what it takes to survive the cut.

Bolick and Perez made strong impressions during their 10-day camp in Spain, where the national team played in a mini-tournament in Malaga against Congo and Ivory Coast.

On the other hand, Ravena showed that he is more than ready to step up and fill the void created by Jayson Castro’s absence despite coming from an 18-month suspension imposed by the International Basketball Federation.

The three were chosen after Matthew Wright and Poy Erram crashed with injuries in the final stretch of their preparation while Beau Belga retained his spot as practice player.

SBP sources said the three stalwarts would suit up in the 30th Southeast Asian Games that the country would host this November, instead.

Also making it to the team were shoo-ins Japeth Aguilar, June Mar Fajardo, Andray Blatche, Roger Pogoy, Paul Lee and Gabe Norwood.

Rounding up the squad are Troy Rosario, Raymond Almazan and Mark Barroca, who will return to the team he joined under Serbian mentor Rajko Toroman in 2009.

Actually, Barroca was the final choice as Guiao had to pick between him and Wright. But with Wright suffering an injury, making a decision became a walk in the park.

“The deliberation of the final 12 was not easy at all. Actually, we have been discussing it for weeks now,” said Guiao following the second installment of their match against Adelaide 36ers last Monday.

Having a relatively young squad in the biggest basketball stage in the world is such a stroke of a genius.

Together with Japan and Indonesia, the Philippines is hosting the next edition of the prestigious tourney in 2023 and Bolick, Perez and Ravena are being groomed as nucleus of the home squad together with other young players like 7-foot-1 Kai Sotto, 6-foot-11 AJ Edu, 6-foot-8 Gian Chu and other national youth team stalwarts like Dalph Panopio, Dave Ildefonso and Terrence Fortea.

By the time the country hosts the World Cup four years from now, Bolick will be 27 years old while Perez and Ravena will both be at their primes at 29 years old.

In a statement, Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Al Panlilio lauded the composition of the squad, saying that they are all willing to sacrifice to play and represent the country before the rest of the world.

“These are the 12 gallant men who will fight for flag and country in the FIBA Basketball World Cup in China, but they would have not gotten this opportunity if not for the sacrifices of all players, coaches and staff who helped along the way throughout the FIBA Asian Qualifiers,” Panlilio said.

“This is your Gilas Pilipinas and they will do their best to represent the 100 million Filipinos and promote the Philippine brand of basketball in the world stage.”

Gilas will open their bid against Italy on Saturday before facing Serbia on 2 September and Angola on 4 September. They need two wins to advance to the next round in Wuhan.