SBP Reveals PH Gilas Lineup to FIBA 3×3 Olympic Qualifiers

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) named its Gilas Pilipinas 3×3 lineup for the FIBA 3×3 Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Bengaluru, India next month.

In a statement on Tuesday, the SBP named Joshua Munzon, Alvin Pasaol, Mo Tautuaa, and CJ Perez as the four men that will vie for one of the three spots on the line in the inaugural Olympic 3×3 event in Tokyo from July 25 to August 2 this year.

Munzon and Pasaol are the top two players in the FIBA 3×3 individual men’s rankings, and they are considered shoo-ins due to a rule mandating teams to bring in at least two players who are in the Top 10 in the domestic rankings.

Tautuaa and Perez, on the other hand, were part of the Gilas 3×3 team that won the gold medal in the first-ever Southeast Asian Games 3×3 event in San Juan City last December.

The players were chosen following a recommendation from the SBP Selection Committee consisting of SBP executive director Sonny Barrios as chairman, and coaches Jong Uichico, Pat Aquino, Ronnie Magsanoc and Eric Altamirano.

The SBP also named Santi Santillan and Karl Dehesa as reserves.

Santillan and Dehesa, like Munzon and Pasaol, are also in the Top 10 Filipino 3×3 players.

Stefan Stojajic will be the head coach of the Gilas 3×3 squad, and he and conditioning coach Darko Krsman are still monitoring the players’ development during the training camp.

The FIBA 3×3 OQT will run from March 18-22. (PNA)