They may not have the size and heft of the previous national teams but the latest version of Gilas Pilipinas would not lack in heart and fighting spirit as it makes its debut in the FIBA Asia Qualifiers versus Indonesia at the Mahaka Arena in Jakarta Sunday night.
"It's a challenge for each and everyone of us. We're a new team, everybody wants to prove something so we're going to play as hard as we can and not let up on anything," said Gilas skipper Kiefer Ravena.
At 26, Ravena is the most experienced player in the Gilas quintet of coach Mark Dickel.
They won't have the likes of an Andray Blatche, a June Mar Fajardo and a Jayson Castro. Nonetheless, Gilas is expected to get to a winning start, with Dickel unleashing a bunch of youngsters all determined to show what they've got.
They hit the floor at 6 p.m. (7 p.m. in Manila) against the home team playing a second game in three nights after dropping a 76-109 loss to South Korea Friday.
Sponsored content:
Under former Gilas coach Rajko Toroman, the Indonesians showed a great promise in the opening quarter but couldn't sustain a fiery start that saw them enjoy a lead as big as nine points.
The Indonesians were paced by Abraham Grahita with 25 points. There were reports, though, that Grahita has been dropped from the roster due to misbehavior.
But regardless whom they play, the Nationals vow to dish out the best they can.
"Ang mindset namin is to play the best way possible. That's the only we way we can show respect to our opponents - to play to our level - so we have to push one another to be the best. You know people in the Philippines are looking up to us and we got 120 million watching us. They don't wanna see us lose, just like us, ayaw namin matalo," said Ravena.
The Gilas young guns are all raring to come out.
Sponsored content:
"Super excited to show what we've got sa team and of course. sa akin ginagawa ko naman kung anong kailangan ng team, yung role ko sa team, and do it as perfect as I can para may matulong ako sa bayan," said Matt Nieto.
"I got the chance to play for the national team during my youth period, with Energen (U-16 and U-18 squads) and with Mighty Sports and Ateneo in Dubai but going to the seniors program has a different ring to it so I'm excited really. I didn't think I'd make it to this point so happy to be here," said Isaac Go.
Go and Nieto are among the fresh blood to a new-look Gilas crew along with fellow debutants Dwight Ramos and Juan Gomez de Lia?o, and Thirdy Ravena, who actually has had a brief stint with the previous Gilas team.
Others with previous Gilas stints are PBA players Troy Rosario, RR Pogoy, CJ Perez, Poy Erram and Abu Trattter. Picked to add size is Phoenix Pulse's Justin Chua. (SB)
