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| Ricci Rivero is part of Manny Pangilinan's players that he hopes will be part of Gilas for 2023. Nikki Collantes (file photo) |
PASIG—Manny Pangilinan looks forward to seeing the current college basketball stars and PBA rookies beef up Gilas' roster as the Philippines hosts the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
The chairman emeritus of the SBP particularly cited the Ravena Brothers, all-around gunner Robert Bolick, explosive scorer CJ Perez, and high-flying Ricci Rivero as the expected main guns for the Gilas campaign for 2023.
"These are the kids who will be at the prime of their basketball career by the time 2023 rolls in," Pangilinan said during the press conference of SBP's successful hosting bid at the Crowne Plaza Grand Ballroom on Thursday. "We do have the raw materials so what we have to [do is to] train and bond [them] properly."
Meanwhile, he expressed his reservations on adding seven-foot-two beanpole Kai Sotto to Gilas' FIBA World Cup team for 2023.
"He's still too young," Pangilinan said of the 15-year-old Sotto, who will only turn 21 come 23.
Pangilinan prefers a lineup consisting of players 26-32 years old, but he clarified that he will let the coach for the 2023 team take charge of the roster management.
Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno
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