A Red Lion in Gilas: Mocon Invited to Gilas Pool

Time is no longer on the side of Gilas Pilipinas in terms of making enough preparations for the national team to be ready in time for the first window of the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers which will start next week where the Filipinos will play against Thailand on February 20, and Indonesia three days after that. And with the tons of players begging off from the training pool, it doesn't make the job easier for Mark Dickel and the rest of the coaching staff.

Fortunately, the PBA has no shortage of players who can be called upon for national team duties.

Three big men, Justin Chua, Vic Manuel, and Abu were given out invites to join the pool with Chua being confirmed as the replacement of Japeth Aguilar who begged off because of his extended honeymoon with his partner.  Then again,  the reinforcement isn't enough yet considering the number of players who begged off. Fortunately, Mark Dickel knows who to pick next.

Javee Mocon of the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters has joined the Gilas practice after being invited. And he wasn't just somebody who Dickel would pick out of the blue because Dickel himself experienced what Mocon can do in the PBA, especially against Dickel's team, the TNT KaTropa. In fact, Javee Mocon had 19 points, 7 rebounds, and a block in a losing effort for the Elasto Painters against TNT last September. Dickel knew that Mocon could be a headache for opponents especially at the small forward spot. In addition to this, Javee Mocon normed 10 points and 6 rebounds in his first year as a PBA player right after being drafted as the 6th pick in the 2018 PBA Rookie Draft. He won 4 championships in the NCAA and 2 more in the PCCL- all while wearing the red and white jersey of the San Beda Red Lions.

He's no longer a stranger to national duty as he was former Gilas cadet whose name is also included in Chot Reyes' "23 for 23" list of players who could represent the country in the 2023 FIBA World Cup here in Manila. 

Mocon's credentials are indication that yes, he can play under brighter lights. That yes,  he is a winner. That yes, he belongs to Gilas Pilipinas.

Photo is from ABS CBN News