Gilas Pilipinas took a step toward embracing a youth movement by tapping Kiefer Ravena as its team captain for the first window of the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers.
Interim coach Mark Dickel made the move Sunday during the team's fourth practice at the Meralco Gym in Ortigas, Pasig.
"It suits him. He's talkative, communicative. It's his turn. think he's more than capable of taking that role and doing a great job with it," Dickel told reporters. "We want everyone to be like that. But it's gotta start with one guy first."
Ravena was surprised at the decision but viewed the role as a way to bridge the gap between the 24-man pool's veterans and amateurs.
"I feel like I'm at the point where I'm in the middle. Ping's (Marc Pingris) almost 10 years older than the other players. At least one way or another I kinda know how the others play after having played with and against them," Ravena said in Filipino.
"I guess it just feels different because there are a lot of younger players now and the future of Philippine basketball is here. It's another challenge for me, how to try to make all these stars work together in a span of 10 days."
Dickel said it's the first of many steps they are trying to take in order to have Ravena reach his potential to "be a world-class point guard."
"A big part of it is just showing a lot of confidence in him, telling that it's his role and he has to step up and do it. I've seen him do it numerous times for NLEX where I thought he was excellent last conference," Dickel said. "... There's no reason he can't do it here. And for 2023, it should be him So it should start now."
Ravena said he'll seek help from Pingris and World Cup teammates Roger Pogoy, CJ Perez and Troy Rosario in building a culture that would serve as a foundation for 2023.
"There's pressure of course, but I'm not shouldering it all alone," Ravena said. " ... We'll all help each other to make things work and give this Gilas pool a new identity."
Gilas also added another Justin Chua after suffering three losses to its selection of big men early in its build-up.
Chua was among 18 players present and was surprised he was tapped.
"(On Saturday) ... I got a phone call from (team manager) Gabby Cui. I wondered why he called and thought I was traded again," the Phoenix Fuel Masters center joked. "I was really excited because it's been a longtime dream of mine to play for Gilas."
Whether Chua will be part of the pool remains to be seen, but program director Tab Baldwin said they'll take advantage of the 30-year-old's presence after losing Japeth Aguilar, Christian Standhardinger and Mac Belo in recent days.
"That's a FIBA managerial issue. I just know that when we had Japeth and Christian pull out and Ping with injury, we need bigger bodies," he explained. "The guys that we like are the guys that have a lot of energy, a lot of toughness. Justin certainly fits that. We'll see. As far as I know, he's going to be in the pool. But it's not confirmed to me yet."
Aside from Chua and Ravena, 16 other players were also on hand. Present were guards CJ Perez and Roger Pogoy, with Troy Rosario and Poy Erram joining Chua for the PBA side. Pingris also joined in the on-court work but mostly did assisting in street clothes.
Juan and Javi Gomez de Liaño, Jaydee Tungcab, Thirdy Ravena and Dave Ildefonso were in attendance as well as Dwight Ramos.
All special Gilas draftees in Isaac Go, Matt and Mike Nieto, Rey Suerte and Allyn Bulanadi also participated in the three-hour session. Justine Baltazar, Ray Parks, Matthew Wright and Kobe Paras were missing from the workouts.
Gilas will take a break Monday and resume practice Tuesday.