Rank Country Gold Silver Bronze Total
    View Today
    Sun, Nov 5

    Gilas debut vs Iran a 'great test for our bigs,' says Chot

    A Gilas team with no naturalized player and no Kai Sotto takes on an Iranian side in China pocket tournament
    Aug 2, 2023
    gilas china chot reyes
    PHOTO: SBP

    GILAS Pilipinas tests its mettle against Iran and Senegal, two teams with obvious size and heft, as it kicks off its campaign in the Heyuan WUS International Basketball Tournament in Guandong, China.

    The national team take to the court of the Heyuan Sport Gymnasium at 8 p.m. on Thursday against the Iranians in its debut in the six-day, three-nation tournament serving as a tune-up for two FIBA World Cup-bound squads.

    READ: Can Gilas be competitive at World Cup without Kai Sotto? Watch SPIN POV

    The following day, the Filipinos take on the Senegalese at Jiangman En Ping Sports gymnasium.

    Gilas will have a glimpse of how its opponents play as Iran and Senegal open hostilities on Wednesday night at the Chinese province formerly known as Canton.

    “The thing we want is the experience of playing with great size. We know how tall, how big Iran is. We know how tall, how long Senegal is,” said Gilas mentor Chot Reyes after the team conducted its first practice upon arriving in Guandong early Tuesday evening.

    “This is going to be a great test not only for the bigs, but for the rest of the team,” added Reyes, who celebrated his 60th birthday also on Tuesday.

    gilas china pocket tournament

    Initially, the tournament involved Lebanon, but the team of Wael Arajki decided to back out at the last minute as it failed to complete the necessary requirements.

    ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW ↓

    After a break on August 5, Gilas returns to action on the 6th against Senegal at the Heyuan Sports Gymnasium and then a return bout with Iran the following day at the Xiaoqing Sport Center.

    “Can we rebound against these teams? That’s the No. 1 thing. And No. 2, can we finds ways not to get overpowered inside and all throughout. Those are the two things we really want to look at,” said Reyes.

    MORE FROM SPIN
    MORE FROM SPIN

      “Finally of course, we want to gauge how far we’ve come and what else we need to work on.”

      Reyes will rely on a 13-man team during the pocket meet as injured players Scottie Thompson, Kai Sotto, and Poy Erram didn’t join the trip, along with naturalized players Jordan Clarkson, Justin Brownlee, and Ange Kouame.

      SEE ALSO
      SEE ALSO

      The team is composed of PBA six-time MVP June Mar Fajardo, Japeth Aguilar, CJ Perez, Dwight Ramos, Chris Newsome, Kiefer Ravena, Rhenz Abando, Roger Pogoy, Bobby Ray Parks Jr., Thirdy Ravena, AJ Edu, Calvin Oftana, and Rhenz Abando.

      CONTINUE READING BELOW ↓
      Watch Now

      Parks, Oftana, and Pogoy are joining Gilas in its overseas training for the first time after missing out on the European trip last month due to injuries.

      Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph

      Read Next
      Watch Now
      Sorry, no results found for
      PHOTO: SBP
    • POLL

      • Quiz

        Quiz Result