Two-time Olympian and current TNT KaTropa coaching consultant Mark Dickel has been tasked to lead the campaign of Gilas Pilipinas Men for the upcoming first window of the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers as interim head coach.
The Philippines will be opening its campaign with a home game against 2019 Southeast Asian Games silver medalist Thailand on Feb. 20, followed by a road game against Indonesia at the Britama Arena in Jakarta on Feb. 23.
“In his short stint in the Philippines, coach Mark has performed creditably well”, said Manny V. Pangilinan, Chairman Emeritus of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) .
The 24-man pool of Gilas Pilipinas Men for the upcoming window includes three members of the KaTropa in RR Pogoy, Troy Rosario, and Ray Parks.
Aside from the three TNT players, also included in the pool are Kiefer Ravena and Poy Erram from NLEX, Christian Standhardinger from NorthPort, Japeth Aguilar from Ginebra, CJ Perez from Columbian, Mac Belo from Blackwater, and Matthew Wright from Phoenix. Adding youth into the team are recent PBA draftees Isaac Go, Matt and Mike Nieto, Rey Suerte, and Allyn Bulanadi along with Justine Baltazar, Dave Ildefonso, Thirdy Ravena, Kobe Paras, Juan and Javi Gomez de Liano, Jaydee Tungcab, and Dwight Ramos.
