Jun 21, 2021

Gilas stays in Clark bubble, leaves June 24 for Serbia OQT

GILAS Pilipinas is not about to break camp yet even with its campaign in the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers done - with flying colors.

Coach Tab Baldwin and his youth brigade are continuing their Clark bubble training, and hope to improve even more as they are to battle heavyweights in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Serbia in July.

The PBA support will still be there, with the PBA Gilas special draftees among the players fighting out for the 12 spots to the squad that will tangle with Serbia on July 1 and versus Dominican Republic on July 2.

Rey Suerte, among the PBA Gilas draftees, will try to catch up and make up for lost opportunity to serve in the just concluded continental qualifiers due to a sprained ankle.

Isaac Go, Mike Nieto, Jordan Heading, William Navarro and Jaydee Tungcab were PBA Gilas players who were able to play and contribute in the FIBA Clark bubble.

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Go saw action in all six Gilas games in the continental qualifiers, putting in averages of 3.7 points and 4.3 rebounds.

Navarro had solid outings in their two matches against Korea. And in three games in all counting a stint in Amman, Jordan, he normed 4.0 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.3 assists.

Heading made a good impression in his Gilas debut, contributing with three markers, two assists and two rebounds in their 76-51 rout of Indonesia Friday then coming through with 10 points, including two three-pointers, as Gilas repeated over Korea, 82-77, in a rematch Sunday.

After sweeping games against South Korea and Indonesia, Gilas will also have the opportunity to play China in a tune-up game at the AUF Gym.

China is also staying in a bubble in Clark and will continue to sweat it out at the AUF Gym in preparation for its own OQT in Canada starting June 30.

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Gilas leaves for the Serbia OQT on June 24. (SB)