PATRICK Fran gets another shot at a 3x3 men’s basketball medal at the Asian Games.
The 53-year-old former PBA player has been tasked to handle the Gilas Pilipinas men’s 3x3 side that is out to redeem itself in the quadrennial showcase slated in Nagoya, Japan this month. The Asiad 3x3 is for Under-23 players.
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Fran was named head coach of the team put together by 3x3 project director Ryan Gregorio of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) after working with JJ Espanola in calling the shots for the U21, U23, and senior men’s teams.
Comprising the Asiad 3x3 unit are Binan Tatak Gel’s Nic Cabanero, Koji Buenaflor of University of Santo Tomas, and the De La Salle duo of Doy Dungo and Luis Pablo.
Fran, a proud product of Santo Tomas who played for TNT and Air21 and later, became assistant coach at Meralco, was with the coaching staff of the Gilas 3x3 team when the half-court game made its debut in the Hangzhou Asiad in 2022.
The national team – then comprised of Bismarck Lina, Bryan Sajonia, Janrey Pasaol, and Justine Sanchez – made it to the knockout quarterfinals, where it lost to South Korea, 19-16.
But the Philippines was the only team to beat Chinese Taipei, 17-12, during the group stage. Chinese Taipei eventually ended up winning the gold by beating Qatar, 18-16.
This time, Fran will be handling a team whose members are seeing action in the FIBA 3x3 World Cup in Wuhan, China a week before the Asiad.
Espanola will call the shots in the World Cup.
Buenaflor is with the U-21 team that qualified for Wuhan, while Pablo and Dungo are with the U-23 team seeing action in the same World Cup meet in China.
Cabanero meanwhile, was with the Gilas 3x3 team that advanced in the semis of the Asian Beach Games, but lost to perennial rival Thailand, 20-18.
The 3x3 World Cup will be held from Sept. 15 to 19, although the half-court competitions in the Asiad won’t start until Sept. 21 at the Kinio-futo Station Square.
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