Kiefer, Jeron, Parks lead 16-man SEABA pool

MANILA, Philippines -- From the original 25 invited to the tryouts, national coach Tab Baldwin on Friday named 16 players, including naturalized player Marcus Douthit, to the pool from which the Gilas Pilipinas team competing in the coming Southeast Asian Basketball (SEABA) Championship and the Southeast Asian Games will be formed.

The SEABA is set April 27 to May 1 and the SEA Games is scheduled June 9 to 15, both in Singapore.

Named to the Gilas Cadets pool after a series of tryouts conducted by Baldwin and his assistant coaches Nash Racela, Josh Reyes, Mike Oliver and Jimmy Alapag were Baser Amer of San Beda, Mac Belo of Far Eastern, Kevin Ferrer of Santo Tomas U, Jiovanni Jalalon of Arellano U, Glenn Khobutin of National U, Ray-Ray Parks of Hapee Toothpaste, Keifer Ravena of Ateneo, Thirdy Ravena of Ateneo, Prince Rivero of De La Salle, Roy Rosario of Hapee, Jeron Teng of De La Salle, Scottie Thompson of Hapee, Norbert Torres of Cebuana Lhuillier, Arnold Van Opstal of De La Salle and Almond Vosotros of Cebuana Lhuillier.

Garvo Lanete’s inclusion in the pool depends on his quick recovery from a recent injury.

Baldwin has called for the start of team practice on Monday, 8 to 10 p.m., at the Meralco gym.

The former New Zealand and Jordan coach, appointed recently to handle the Gilas Pilipinas squad aiming for a 2016 Olympic slot in Rio de Janeiro via the FIBA Asia Championship in China later this year, said he was “very impressed” with all the players invited to the tryouts.

The SEABA Championship is the qualifying tournament to the FIBA Asia Championship in Hunan, China which in turn will serve as the regional qualifier to the Brazil Olympiad next year.

“The future of Philippine basketball looks very promising,” said Baldwin, who is also in the process of forming the men’s team made up of PBA players backstopped by either Douthit or Andray Blatche, Gilas Pilipinas’ naturalized center in last year’s FIBA Basketball World Cup in Seville, Spain.

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas is reaching out to all the parties concerned, from the players’ respective coaches, schools, clubs and leagues, to rally support for the Gilas Cadet program under SBP President Manny V. Pangilinan.