Gilas Pilipinas squad goes back to Calambubble

Gilas Pilipinas is headed back to “Calambubble” inside the Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba, Laguna on April 26, Monday, to resume its preparation for the final window of FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers and the Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

“The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas heeded the instructions of the Philippine Sports Commission when they asked all national athletes to halt their training during the Enhanced Community Quarantine. When the IATF announced that they will be lifting those limitations, we immediately worked on getting the team back together," said SBP President Al Panlilio in a statement.

Soon-to-be Filipino Ange Koume and Gilas draftees Isaac Go, Rey Suerte, Matt Nieto, Mike Nieto, Jordan Heading, William Navarro, Tzaddy Rangel, and Jaydee Tungcab heads the youth-laden squad.

Also included in the 20-man pool are the holdovers from the previous window of the FIBA Asia Qualifiers namely Dwight Ramos, Dave Ildefonso, Javi Gomez de Liano, Justine Baltazar, and Kenmark Carino.

Carl Tamayo, Lebron Lopez, Geo Chiu, Jason Credo, SJ Belangel, and RJ Abbarrientos are the newcomers who came in last March that were given the invite to come in anew to the Bubble training.

Meanwhile, Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas is still working out for the schedule of Kai Sotto who is still in the US.

Gilas Pilipinas Program Director Tab Baldwin will supervise the camp together with coaches Jong Uichico, Sandy Arespacochaga, Boyet Fernandez, Caloy Garcia, Alton Lister, Sandro Soriano, and trainer Dex Aseron.

The training of Gilas Pilipinas was prematurely stopped before the Holy Week last March after Laguna, which is part of “NCR Plus”, was placed under Enhanced Community Quarantine.

"We appreciate everyone's eagerness to rejoin the bubble and we're hopeful that the team will get to pick up where they left things off before they broke camp," added Panlilio. "The FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers and the OQT are fast approaching and, although the postponements have been tough on everyone, we remain confident that this training pool will put in the work necessary to perform at their best." said Al Panlilio in his statement.

The young squad is looking to book a ticket for the FIBA Asia Cup with just one win in three games against South Korea (twice) and Indonesia (once) needed for them to do so, and a ticket to the Tokyo Olympics if they will win the Belgrade Window of the Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

Image from Inspire Sports Academy