Inaasahang malaki ang iaambag nina dating Ateneo star Thirdy Ravena at 7-foot-2 prodigy na si Kai Sotto sa magiging kampanya ng Gilas Pilipinas sa 2023 FIBA World Cup kung saan co-host ang bansa kasama ang Japan at Indonesia.
Sinabi ni Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas special assistant to the president Ryan Gregorio, malaki ang pakinabang sa Gilas ng pagsabak nina Ravena bilang Asian import sa San-en Neo Phoenix squad sa Japan B.League, at ni Sotto sa NBA G League.
“It’s a great opportunity for them to play international basketball to gain not just basketball experience, but also to mold their character,” wika ni Gregorio.
Gayunman, posibleng maging problema lamang daw ng Gilas ay ang availability o kung puwedeng maglaro sina Sotto sa nasabing panahon.
Kung sakaling maging ganito raw ang sitwasyon, inihayag ni Gregorio na posibleng manghiram ang national team ng mga manlalaro sa PBA kung kailanganin.
“When we call the number of June Mar, automatically he makes himself available. No extra cash, just straight talk here,” dagdag ni Gregorio. “The biggest question is once their names are called, their number will obviously be called when the opportunity comes. But are [Ravena and Sotto] going to make themselves available?”
Samantala, inihayag din ni Gregorio na nais maglaro ni Greg Slaughter sa Gilas sa 2023 FIBA World Cup.
Batay sa ulat, nagsasanay ang dating PBA Rookie of the Year na si Slaughter sa Amerika mula nang mapaso ang kontrata nito sa Barangay Ginebra noong Pebrero.
“That’s definitely a great development because the height of Greg will obviously be an important addition to the national team,” ani Gregorio. “…If he is available for that particular slot, and then the coaches decide that there is a space for him, of course we will embrace him because you just do not get a 7-footer out of nowhere.”
Huling naglaro si Slaughter sa national team noong Disyembre nang depensahan ng Pilipinas ang korona nito sa men;s basketball ng PBA Rookie of the Year na ginanap dito sa bansa noong nakalipas na taon.
