The Ravena brothers are expected to lead the 21-player national men’s basketball team pool for the 2023 FIBA World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the Philippines this August.
After missing the last two windows of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers due to their Japan B.League commitments, Ilonggos Kiefer and Thirdy Ravena will return in action.
The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) said team will be a combination of PBA players and Filipino cagers who were playing in Japan and South Korea.
Bannering the pool were naturalized players Jordan Clarkson of 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 San Miguel Beermen and Chris Newsome of 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.
The Pinoy drillers will try to win their game in Group A where they face Italy, Dominican Republic and Angola. The matches will be held at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan and Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
The No. 40 ranked Philippines, which is to be handled by Vincent “Chot” Reyes, needed to finish in top two of the group stage for a chance to move on to the next round of the competition.
During the 2019 FIBA World Cup in China, the Joseller “Yeng” Guiao-mentored national men’s basketball team dropped all of their matches in the group stage and classification round.IMT Sports
