Gilas Pilipinas flies to Manama, Bahrain today to begin its campaign in the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers slated on November 26 to 30.
“We are leaving na tomorrow,” National team head coach Jong Uichico told The Manila Times on Saturday.
Gilas will see action in Group A together with Indonesia, Thailand and South Korea.
The South Korean team though opted to skip the competition because of the Covid-19 pandemic, hence the Philippines will only battle Thailand on the 27th and the 30th at the Khalifa Sports City stadium.
Gilas holds a 1-0 win-loss card in these qualifiers by virtue of its 100-70 victory over Indonesia last February.
The 14 players sent to Bahrain are Rey Suerte, Isaac Go, Matt and Mike Nieto, Calvin Oftana, Kenmark Cariño, Dave Ildefonso, Dwight Ramos, Wil Navarro, Jayde Tungcab, Juan and Javi Gomez de Liaño, Justin Baltazar, and Kobe Paras.
Allyn Bulanadi was incapacitated by a shoulder injury while Ivorian Ange Kouame, who is yet to secure his Filipino citizenship through naturalization, is ineligible to play.
Gilas is expected to announce its final 12-man lineup the day before the competition.