By REYNALD MAGALLON
The 12 players carrying the nation’s hope on their broad shoulders have already arrived in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia for a daunting mission of reaching the summit of Asian basketball in the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup that will fire off next week.
The Nationals, after two weeks of intense training, flew Wednesday evening, July 30, with Calvin Oftana, previously questionable for the tournament due to injuries, completing the final roster.
“Syempre para sa bayan. Nandito yung mga kasama ko simula’t sapul na binuo ‘tong grupo na ito so I think yung pahinga saka na muna yon after na nito,” said Oftana in an interview by One Sports and shared by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas on its Facebook page.
Oftana, who is coming off a grueling Season 49 that saw his TNT team set a record for most games in a season with 75 games, will be joined by his Philippine Cup Finals rivals and eventual champions June Mar Fajardo and CJ Perez of the San Miguel Beermen.
It was no rest for the weary trio as they are finally joining the Nationals in the remaining days of preparations – including a friendly game against Jordan – before the team take on its group stage foes Chinese Taipei, New Zealand and Iraq beginning Aug. 5.
“Expectation ko syempre gawin namin yung best namin for the country, for the Filipinos for these guys, for the coaches and ‘yung family namin na manalo every game,” said Oftana.
“Mahirap ito na journey para sa Gilas pero bibigay namin yung best namin para makapanalo ng games. Sana makaaabot ng finals para sa bayan. Walang pahinga pero pag para sa pilipinas sobrang excited talaga ako. Minsan lang yung opportunity na ito so ginigrab ko na,” echoed Perez.
Of course, joining the three were the other members of the original 12 selected by head coach Tim Cone, except Kai Sotto, who will be returning to Japan to continue his rehab for his ACL injury.
Japeth Aguilar is taking his place to join Ginebra teammates Justin Brownlee, Scottie Thompson and Jamie Malonzo along with other Gilas mainstays Dwight Ramos, Kevin Quiambao, Carl Tamayo, AJ Edu, and Chris Newsome.
Reserves Troy Rosario and RJ Abarrientos were the final cuts to the Gilas long list it submitted to FIBA for the continental tiff.
The Nationals are looking to best their ninth place finish in the 2022 edition – the team’s worst finish since 2007 where it also ended up on the same rankings
