The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) is slated to add three players to its Gilas Pilipinas Men's pool from the upcoming PBA Rookie Draft.
"The SBP, as always, is thankful to the PBA for its cooperation as we build towards the Philippines' hosting of the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup with Japan and Indonesia," said SBP President Al Panlilio. "We were able to secure five players from the Gilas Draft in 2019 and we're happy to welcome three additional talents in Jordan Heading, Tzaddy Rangel, and Jaydee Tungcab."
Tungcab is a 6-foot-3 guard and a product of the University of the Philippines who was supposed to play as an Asian import in the Japanese B.League before new strains of the COVID-19 virus complicated the situation.
Heading is a 6-foot-2 guard from the California Baptist University and a proud product of the Batang Gilas program.
Rangel is a 6-foot-8 bruiser from the National University. He and Heading will have some chemistry going into the Gilas Pilipinas program as they were teammates under San Miguel Alab Pilipinas in the ASEAN Basketball League last season.
The three will join Isaac Go, Matt Nieto, Mike Nieto, Rey Suerte, and Allyn Bulanadi as full-time members of the Gilas Pilipinas pool. The first four are currently in Calamba, Laguna as the team prepares for the final window of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers while Bulanadi is still recuperating from shoulder surgery.
"We thank the three for their trust and commitment to the program," said Panlilio. "Over a short span, we've seen the development of the program and of the players' individual talents as well and we're confident that the upcoming Gilas draftees will benefit greatly under Program Director Tab Baldwin and his outstanding staff of coaches."