Kib Montalbo makes PH team debut as Gilas opens WCQ stint vs. India

Kib Montalbo makes his Gilas debut later Friday. PBA Images (file photo)
By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA—Kib Montalbo gets his chance to play for the Three Stars and a Sun as he was chosen to the Gilas Pilipinas team that will take on India on Friday night in the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

Montalbo, known for his lockdown defense and shooting, made it to the Final 12 along with fellow TNT players Poy Erram, Kelly Williams, Troy Rosario, and RR Pogoy.

Williams' entry means he will be making his return to Gilas at age 40.

Pogoy making it too means he will play despite his injury that kept him out of the PBA restart.

Completing the 12-man lineup are NorthPort's Robert Bolick, B.League standouts Thirdy Ravena, Juan Gomez De Liaño, and Dwight Ramos, Gilas cadets Tzaddy Rangel and Will Navarro, and naturalized center Ange Kouame.

Jaydee Tungcab, LeBron Lopez, and Gab Banal will take the day off, but they can be considered for Gilas' Sunday night clash with New Zealand.

Gilas takes on India at 6 p.m. Friday.

Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno