Justin Arana is making the most of his first opportunity to represent Gilas Pilipinas, with two familiar Converge FiberXers teammates helping him navigate the demands of Tim Cone’s system.
Arana was included in the 12-player roster for the national team’s match against Iran on Sunday following the absence of Carl Tamayo due to an ankle injury during their Friday game against Jordan.
The 6-foot-7 big man earned the call-up after a productive run in the PBA Governors’ Cup, where he has been averaging 21.8 points and 8.3 rebounds per game.
Despite his familiarity with basketball at the professional level, Arana acknowledged that adapting to Cone’s system would take time.
Gomez de Liaño and Baltazar have been providing Arana with guidance during practices, giving the Converge trio an added advantage as they work within the national team setup.
“I won’t be able to learn the system in just one day, so they’ve been helping me. It’s a great experience for me,” Arana said. “I’m excited and I’ll give my best. Whatever role they give me, I’ll accept it 100 percent.”
The former University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers big man is treating his first national team stint as an opportunity he cannot afford to waste.
“This is big for me. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. My mindset is just to be ready,” he said.(Adrian Co)
