Javi GDL, Gian Mamuyac, Shaun Ildefonso, Justin Arana join Gilas pool

The four new Gilas additions take a photo together with PBA commissioner Willie Marcial during the PBA Draft. PBA Images

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--Just before the PBA Draft began, four of the draft applicants received good news already.

No less than Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes announced that Javi Gomez De Liano, Gian Mamuyac, Shaun Ildefonso, and Justin Arana have been added to the national team pool in the road to the 2023 FIBA World Cup.

Reyes, who is currently in Hanoi to coach Gilas in the Southeast Asian Games, delivered the message to PBA commissioner Willie Marcial through a Zoom online meeting.

Gomez De Liano and Mamuyac are not anymore new to Gilas as they were part of Tab Baldwin's teams that played in recent FIBA competitions before Reyes succeeded Baldwin.

Ildefonso, on the other hand, played for Batang Gilas last decade but is now poised to make his debut with the senior squad.

Meanwhile, this will be the first time Arana gets a national team call-up, which could be of great use as Gilas needs depth among its big men.

The four players were eventually drafted in the first round of the draft with Arana the earliest to be chosen at number four with Converge.

Mamuyac was selected fifth overall, while Ildefonso eventually joined him at Rain Or Shine as the 10th pick.

Gomez De Liano ended up with Ginebra as the eighth pick.

[Related Story: Brandon Rosser taken 1st overall; Jeremiah Gray goes 2nd in PBA Draft]

Under the new setup, the "Gilas picks" can play for their mother teams during the PBA Philippine Cup until they can be summoned for Gilas training.

Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno