Youth Plus Experience Combo Makes Up Gilas Final 12 for Indonesia Game

No June Mar Fajardo

No Japeth Aguilar

No Christian Standhardinger

Not even a Matthew Wright

Or even a naturalized player

After weeks of guessing who's gonna stay in the original 24-man training pool that the SBP announced last month, we finally have our final 12 players who will play against Indonesia on Sunday as part of the first window of the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers and they are the following:

- Kiefer Ravena

- Thirdy Ravena

- Matt Nieto

- Isaac Go

- Justin Chua

- JP Erram

- Dwight Ramos

- Juan Gomez De Liano

- CJ Perez

- Abu Tratter

- RR Pogoy

- Troy Rosario

Incidentally, 7 of the 12 players are products of the Ateneo basketball program including Dwight Ramos who is in his first stint with Gilas Pilipinas. Surprisingly, Vic Manuel, who was one of the key Gilas players in their run in the 30th SEA Games last year, didn't make the cut. 

What makes this line-up interesting is the fact  that there are two incoming PBA rookies, former UP standout, Juan Gomez De Liano, and a college rookie in Ramos. As expected, CJ Perez is there as well as late call-ups Justin Chua and Abu Tratter. Poy Erram is being joined by his potentially new PBA teammates in Troy Rosario and RR Pogoy. With Mark Dickel and Tab Baldwin at the helm for Gilas, we can expect system-based gameplay for the national team this coming Sunday. In fact, don't even be surprised if we see 5 Ateneo players playing together at some point in the game because that is something that can definitely happen.

And as mentioned, this Gilas team will play without the presence of a naturalized player and that's a good team because as Chris Ross said, the presence of a naturalized player can be used as a clutch. And that just perfectly makes sense. 

Who will man the paint in the absence of some of the PBA's best big men?

JP Erram will take the 5 spot and Isaac Go's ability to score from deep can stretch Indonesia's defense. It's just a matter of taking the shot and sticking to the system. They already know what to do. And of course, the game on Sunday will allow Kiefer Ravena to finally showcase his leadership as this will be the first time he will play as team captain. 

The X-factor? Thirdy Ravena. If anything, his performance during the final window of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers last year served as a teaser of things yet to come. And yes, Thirdy is among the Gilas players who are expected to spread their wings furthermore.  Him and Dwight Ramos. 

#LabanPilipinas!

Photo is from the Philippine Star