FIL-Australian playmaker Luke Atacador makes his Gilas Pilipinas debut as one of the new faces joining the national boys’ team competing in the FIBA U-18 Asia Cup in Ahmedabad, India.
The 5-foot-11 Atacador joins Fil-Am Elias Gish, Fil-Canadian Aidan Dayco-Green, and Jacob Lacson.
READ: Sean Chambers gushes over FEU's newest 6'7 recruit Elias Gish
They comprised the final 12-man roster of the Philippines to the August 13 to 23 meet.
Others in the lineup include Chog Moral, Prince Carino, Bruce Tubongbanua, Ethan Aguas, Pat Pasinos, JB Cagurungan, and Andrew Chio.
It’s the same core of coach Juno Sauler which earned a berth in the Asia Cup following a sweep of the South East Asia Basketball Association U18 qualifiers held in Thailand last June.
Left out are Ziv Espinas, Louis Razon, Kyle Sardon, Hans Patagoc, and SEABA qualifiers MVP Joaquin Tovera, who is currently with the De La Salle team competing in the University Top League in Saga, Japan.
READ: Prince Carino to play in Basketball Without Borders Camp in Turkey
Atacador previously tried out with the Gilas U16 team of former coach LA Tenorio, but failed to make the roster as he was three months overaged by then.
But he was urged to come back from Australia and tried out with the U18 team, eventually earning a spot in the 12-man roster for the continental showcase.
The young player from Melbourne, whose parents are both Filipinos, was at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last week upon the invitation of Tenorio and watched the Manila Clasico game between Magnolia and Barangay Ginebra.
The Philippines is in Group A together with Thailand, Chinese Taipei, and Australia.
The Gilas boys open their campaign on the 13th against Chinese Taipei, followed by the Aussies on the 15th, before ending the group stage against the Thais on the 17th.
The top teams from the four groups earn outright berths to the quarterfinals, while the second and third placed teams in each group will go through the play-in round to determine the other half of the Final Eight.
The top four finishers in the 10-day meet will qualify to the FIBA U-19 World Cup slated in Pardubice, Czech Republic.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
