Cadets-loaded Gilas Men pool revealed

The 2019 PBA top draftees will be part the Gilas Men pool for the FIBA ACQ November window. Nikki Collantes (file photo)

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--With the PBA still in a bubble, the youngsters will take centerstage for Gilas Pilipinas Men for the meantime.

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas announced on Friday that the national pool for the upcoming November window of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers will be mainly composed of the Gilas Cadets.

Headlining the list are PBA draftees Isaac Go, Rey Suerte, twin brothers Matt and Mike Nieto, and Allyn Bulanadi.

Joining them are Kobe Paras, Javi and Juan Gomez De Liano, Balti Baltazar, Dave Ildefonso, Will Navarro, Kenmark Carino, Calvin Oftana, Jaydee Tungcab, Dwight Ramos, and naturalization candidate Ange Kouame.

Gilas Men are scheduled to face South Korea and Thailand in the second window of the FIBA ACQ.

As part of the COVID-19 protocols, the games will be held inside a bubble in Manama, Bahrain.

However, South Korea recently expressed its desire to beg off from the Bahrain bubble due to the current pandemic situation.

Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno_