Final Stretch of Gilas 3x3 Training is Underway

Gilas Pilipinas 3x3 training pool gets a major boost with the arrival of Tonino Gonzaga, Agosto Flor, and Malick Diouf as the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas look to simulate the opposition that Gilas 3x3 National Team will face in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

Gonzaga is part of the Nueva Ecija 3x3 team who went all the way to the Finals of a pro-league where they battled against Joshua Munzon and Alvin Pasaol. Flor, on the other hand, is a regular 3x3 practice player under Coach Ronnie Magsanoc and is the San Miguel Beermen’s fifth round draft pick in the recent PBA draft. Meanwhile, Diouf, is the former Centro Escolar University towering presence inside the paint but is now with the University of the Philippines.

The three additional players will join Leonard Santillan and Karl Dehesa in helping the 3x3 National Team composed of Joshua Munzon, Alvin Pasaol, Mo Tautuaa, and CJ Perez prepare in the country’s bid to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics.

With the arrival of the new players, our quartet will now have full scrimmage to gain that semblance of competition and give the players a chance to familiarize themselves with different combinations.

All players were already inside the Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba, Laguna Friday afternoon and ready to get loose immediately as they only have less than two weeks before the team departs for the May 26 to 30 event in Graz, Austria.

Alvin Pasaol will try to make up for lost time as he wasn’t able to join the practices last week due to health and safety protocol.

Ranked No. 20 Gilas Pilipinas is bracketed with No. 3 Slovenia, No. 11 France, No. 26 Qatar, and No. 33 Dominican Republic in Group C. Only the top two teams from the group will advance to the knockout stage.

The top-three teams at the end of the competition secure a ticket to the Olympics where 3x3 Basketball will make its debut in the quadrennial event.