Gilas Pilipinas will soon make their mark in the collegiate basketball scene.
The 23 for 2023 Gilas cadets, a lineup of the best young talent in the country today, will join the 2018 FilOil Flying V Preseason Premier Cup and compete against the nation's top collegiate teams.
The 2023 FIBA World Cup is still five years away but Gilas Pilipinas is leaving no stones unturned in its preparations.
"To kick start our preparations for the 2023 World Cup, we will be competing in the Premier Cup," Gilas head coach Chot Reyes said.
The 23 for 2023 pool boasts of Ateneo's Thirdy Ravena, Isaac Go, and Matt Nieto; San Beda's Javee Mocon, Kemark Carino, and Robert Bolick; Letran's Jeo Ambohot; FEU's Kenneth Tuffin and Arvin Tolentino; CJ Perez of Lyceum; Paul Desiderio, Juan Gomez de Liaño, and Will Gozum of UP.
Batang Gilas standout Kai Sotto of Ateneo High School and Carl Tamayo of Nazareth School of National University, the youngest players from the pool, will also bolster the lineup.
Since the FilOil tournament compromises of collegiate teams, the cadets will only be part of the Gilas roster if their respective schools do not have a scheduled game for the day.
"The lineup is not yet final," Reyes clarified. "But we are hoping that all the 23 for 2023 cadets here will be allowed to play."
However, the trio of Ricci Rivero, J-Jay Alejandro, and Abu Tratter will compromise the core of the Gilas team since they either exhausted their playing eligibility years or are not committed to any school.
"We would like to thank Chooks-to-Go and Smart for their continued support," Reyes shared. "Also, we are grateful to their schools for lending their student-athletes for the national cause."