JUST to be part of the Gilas Pilipinas pool for the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan excites Brandon Bates.
The Meralco big man is included in the 30-man ‘long list’ of players submitted by the Philippine Olympic Committee to the Asiad Organizing Committee, meaning he is eligible to be part of the final 12 under head coach Tim Cone.
The 28-year-old Bates admitted he was not expecting the call-up, but is looking forward to at least having a chance to make the national team.
“Honestly, it’s an honor. It’s unbelievable,” the 6-foot-9 Bates said on Friday in an interview with reporters after the Bolts' 84-75 loss to Cone and Barangay Ginebra at the Mall of Asia Arena.
READ: Meralco feels Cansino, three others' absence in loss to Ginebra
“I really didn’t expect that at all. It’s a blessing. I’m really, really honored, and I just want to be able to do my best, whether I’m in the actual final 12 or in the pool. I just want to give my all.”
Bates already played for the Philippines, but in 3x3, as he teamed up with Almond Vosotros, Samboy De Leon, and Jorey Napoles in the 2023 FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup in Singapore where they finished 10th.
Fast forward to now, and the Fil-Aussie’s potential Gilas call-up coincides with his respectable showing for Meralco in the ongoing PBA 50th Season Governors' Cup where he is averaging 7.0 points and 8.4 rebounds.
Bates said his teammates, particularly national team mainstay Chris Newsome, have been ribbing him on being part of the pool.
“He (Newsome) is just like, ‘Oh, I heard you are with Gilas.’ I’m like ‘You know as much as I do.’ All of my teammates were like ‘Oh, you're a Gilas player now.’ I’m like, ‘I’m just the same guy, nothing different,’” he said
First audition
He admitted, though, that he also wanted to play his best after the news came out, and with Cone coincidentally on the opposing side.
“There was a little bit of the ego where I was like, ‘Ok, this is definitely like where I can show my stuff.’ I tried my best today. Unfortunately, we lost. Hopefully, I can bring that spark, that fire, on Sunday against Rain or Shine,” he said after putting up eight points and 10 rebounds against the Gin Kings.
Still, Bates would be the first to admit it will be a tall task to make Gilas' final 12 ahead of more tenured and more accomplished players on the pool.
But if and when he is called upon to show up, he will definitely be there.
“I’m not going in here with any expectations of anything. I’m just really, really happy to be there. I’m happy to be able to put the blue and white, regardless if I get picked in the final 12 or I’m just there for the training camp. It’s just awesome,” he said.
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