Gilas Pilipinas will make its debut in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 8 p.m. today against the Dominican Republic at
the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan. The Pinoy squad is in Group A along with Angola and Italy. Thirty-two teams are competing in the tournament.
Gilas will be bannered by Jordan Clarkson, Junemar Fajardo and Kai Sotto along with Dwight Ramos, Rhenz Abando, AJ Edu, CJ Perez, Jamie Malonzo, Japeth Aguilar, Keifer Ravena, Scottie Thompson and Roger Pogoy. Aguilar, appearing in his third straight FIBA World Cup, will be the team captain. Mercado, also one of the country’s premier junior duathletes, finished 7th in the male 16-29 age category, 10th overall out of 433 male competitors and 14th out of the 572 total participants in the event. These feats are no laughing matter considering that the 18-year-old had bruises and scratches all over the left side of his body and on both knees and elbows after his spill with 16 kilometers left in the bike and another 4.5 kilometers run in the contest.
“Hindi ko nga lang po naibigay ng todo kung ano ang ginawa ko sa training dahil nga po sa mga injury ko,” Mercado admitted. He also learned a lot from the experience that hopefully will add more to his resolve in future races and competitions. It also made him wiser too despite his relatively young age.
Philippines Latest News, Philippines Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Clarkson banners Gilas Pilipinas' final lineup as 4 players cut for FIBA World CupNBA veteran Jordan Clarkson leads a Gilas Pilipinas squad composed of five FIBA World Cup returnees and seven first-timers
Read more »
Gilas Pilipinas final 12: Who's in, who's outGilas Pilipinas' appears to be down to just 13 players as Bobby Ray Parks, Third Ravena and Calvin Oftana did not show up in practice on Tuesday night, August 22 at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
Read more »
Erik Spoelstra looking forward to watch Gilas Pilipinas, reconnect with Tim Cone, Chot ReyesMiami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra is looking forward to catch some of the games of the Group A bracketed Gilas Pilipinas and meet up with fellow coach Chot Reyes and forge a significant connection with his Filipino roots.
Read more »
'Deepest cut': Chot Reyes bares 'difficult' choice for Gilas Pilipinas' final lineup'It is not because of anything they did wrong or any lack or deficiency on their part; it is just that we had to make a choice,' says Gilas Pilipinas head coach Chot Reyes
Read more »
A ‘Perfect Game’ for Gilas Pilipinas vs Dominican Republic?As he lounges on a folding chair at the sideline of the PhilSports Arena just before Gilas Pilipinas’ first team practice last Tuesday, Aug. 22, already having wrapped up their Basketball World Cup 2023 preparatory friendlies against Ivory Coast, Montenegro and Mexico, Reyes was asked if a ‘perfect game’ like the one eight-seed Villanova pulled off on April 1, 1985 would be needed to beat Dominican Republic.
Read more »
Old school meets new: Reloaded Gilas foe Italy eyes improved FIBA World Cup runNo longer led by injured NBA standout Danilo Gallinari, Italy banks on new faces like Simone Fontecchio and steady veterans like Nicolo Melli in its 2023 FIBA World Cup campaign
Read more »