Kiefer and Thirdy Ravena have been selected as part of the 21-player pool for the upcoming 2023 FIBA World Cup, set to be co-hosted by the Philippines in August.
The inclusion in the pool marks the return of the Ravena brothers to Gilas Pilipinas, as they were unable to participate in the previous two windows of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers due to their commitments in the Japan B.League.
Their return to Gilas Pilipinas will also bring them back under the coaching guidance of Vincent “Chot” Reyes.
The Gilas Pilipinas pool released by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) on late Tuesday night also shows a mixture of PBA players and Filipino cagers who were playing in Japan and South Korea.
Bannering the pool were naturalized players Jordan Clarkson of the Utah Jazz, Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings’ resident import Justin Brownlee, and former Ateneo Blue Eagles center Angelo Kouame.
PBA players Japeth Aguilar, Earl Scottie Thompson, and Jamie Malonzo of the Kings, Roger Pogoy, John Paul Erram, and Calvin Oftana of TNT Tropang Giga, Jaymar Perez and June Mar Fajardo of the San Miguel Beermen, and Chris Newsome of the Meralco Bolts were also listed.
Aside from the Ravena brothers, other Japan B.League players Dwight Ramos, Jordan Heading, Carl Tamayo, Bobby Ray Parks Jr., and Kai Sotto were also invited by the SBP for the pool.
Capping off the list were Rhenz Abando, who is playing for Anyang KGC Ginseng Corporation in the Korean Basketball League, as well as United States-based AJ Edu.
Gilas Pilipinas were grouped with the Dominican Republic, Angola, and Italy in Group A, where the national team needed to finish within the top two to enter the next round. (AC)
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