Paras, Ravena included in Gilas roster for Jones Cup

MANILA, Philippines – Fil-German Christian Standhardinger, a 6-foot-7 forward who played college ball with Nebraska and Hawaii, arrives in the country next week to join the Gilas cadet team that competes in the 2017 Jones Cup invitational championship in Taipei from July 15-23.

Mike Myers, a standby import by TNT KaTropa in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals, may also join the team as an import if SBP officials are able to make the necessary arrangements.

Gilas has submitted a lineup composed of the Gilas cadets plus new recruits Kobe Paras and Raymar Jose, and returning Gilas player Kiefer Ravena.

Coach Chot Reyes fields the Gilas cadets in the Jones Cup obviously in an effort to help them prepare them for the country’s title defense of the men’s basketball crown in the SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur in August.

It’s past the original deadline, but the SBP has yet to submit its roster for the SEAG competition.

“It’s because the team has started training just last Tuesday. Coach Chot still wants to take a look at the guys,” Gilas team manager Butch Antonio told The STAR.

“But of course I want to meet the deadline. We want to follow the process especially as we’re the defending champion, and everybody’s after us,” Antonio added.

Done is the Gilas Jones Cup roster except the possible addition of Myers.

RR Pogoy, Jio Jalalon and Matthew Wright, part of the Gilas team with a dominant title run in the recent SEABA Championship, banner the cast that will also include Chris Tolomia, Ed Daquioag, Carl Bryan Cruz, Kevin Ferrer, Fonzo Gotladera and Von Pessumal.

Mac Belo is in the list though he’s still recovering from a surgery. Dropped from the pool is Arnold Van Opstal as he’s been missing training since Gilas’ SEABA buildup.

Jones Cup is an annual invitational tourney that serves as the warm-up event among Asian teams for the crucial FIBA plays.

Mighty Sports, a Philippine club team with a number of American reinforcements under coach Bo Perasol, ruled the 2016 Jones Cup via a sweep.  

In this year’s Jones Cup, Team Philippines will be able to test its mettle against Iran, Korea, Japan, India, Iraq, Taipei A and B and club teams from Lithuania and Canada.

The Philippine quintet opens its campaign versus Canada’s 3D Global Sports.

The Gilas pool held only its second practice Thursday night joined in by Myers.

 “If that’s what they want me to be, I’ll be ready to play here. I’ll be ready to help and show my talent. I’ll be ready for the games and I’ll be here to help out this team,” said the 6-foot-9 forward.