TAIPEI – Troy Rike is making the most out of the opportunity to see Gilas Pilipinas up close during the team’s preparation for the Fiba Basketball World Cup Asian qualifiers against Chinese Taipei.
The 22-year-old Rike out of NCAA Division 1 school Wake Forest is the only Gilas cadet who is joining the seniors squad here with Gilas Pilipinas slated to play Chinese Taipei on Friday night at the Taipei Heping Gymnasium.
“It’s an honor,” said the 6-foot-7 Rike. “It’s cool to be around with these guys. I’ve learned a lot. They’ve been accepting and nice to me. It’s cool to be part of this and kinda take this first step to be part of the national team.”
One particular thing Rike learned from the Gilas pros is the time they take to improve their craft.
“The attention they pay to their craft, going to the weight room, taking shots after practice. Even with the cadets, it’s pretty much college guys. Being with professional players and what it takes to do, what they do every day, it’s been really good. I’ve learned a lot,” said Rike.
Rike was part of the 15 pool of players for the Gilas match against Chinese Taipei, but failed to make the final 12.
“That’s fine,” Rike said. “I don’t think that was really part of the plan. I kinda knew coming in I’m here to help the guys get better, help them prepare for the game. Like I said, and I mean it, it’s just an honor to be here. I want to learn and hopefully, in the future, I’ll have the opportunity to suit up.
“But for now, I’m not worried. I just want to see us get the win (on Friday),” Rike said.
Following the experience, Rike hopes to get the opportunity to play for Gilas in the future as he will be staying in the Philippines in order to grab that chance of suiting up for the national team.
“Definitely, I’ll be staying in the Philippines. I’m not sure what I’m going to do for sure yet. But like I said, I want to stay and get better and worked towards being with Gilas full-time. Whatever that means, wherever I can go, wherever the best opportunity that is for me, that’s what I’m going to do,” he said.
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