MANILA, Philippines — Gilas Pilipinas has released its 12-man roster ahead of its first matchup against South Korea on Wednesday.
The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas confirmed the roster in a tweet Tuesday afternoon.
The all-cadet crew for the team's campaign in the FIBA Asia Cup 2021 Qualifiers is set to include:
- G RJ Abarrientos
- G SJ Belangel
- G Jaydee Tungcab
- F Justine Baltazar
- F Mike Nieto
- F Javi Gomez de Liaño
- F Carl Tamayo
- F William Navarro
- C Kai Sotto
- C Angelo Kouame
- C Dwight Ramos
- C Isaac Go (team captain)
Here is our Gilas Pilipinas Men's Team FINAL 12 roster versus South Korea as they kick off their campaign in the #FIBAAsiaCup 2021 Qualifiers! #SBP #ParaSaBayan #LabanPilipinas pic.twitter.com/E0cxqdhYKv
— SBP (@officialSBPinc) June 15, 2021
Newly naturalized Angelo Kouame will suit up for the national team for the first time alongside 7-foot-3 Kai Sotto.
RJ Abarrientos, SJ Belangel and Carl Tamayo are also slated to play for the seniors team for the first time.
Meanwhile, younger names like Jordan Heading, Geo Chiu and LeBron Lopez were cut from the final pool.
“We’re ready to compete and the goal is always to have an opportunity to win,” Ryan Gregorio, special assistant to SBP president Al Panlilio, earlier said.
“We’ve been working out the past nine weeks and we’re now playing our first game on Wednesday (tomorrow) against Korea, two days after Indonesia and on the 20th against Korea (again)," he added.
The game at the Angeles University Foundation Gym will tip off at 6 p.m. — with a report from The STAR