By REYNALD MAGALLON
A slew of NBA talents could be standing in between Gilas Pilipinas and a dream debut in the 2023 FIBA World Cup as Dominican Republic, the Filipinos’ first assignment in the global basketball showpiece, finally unveiled its extended roster on Thursday, July 27.
Bannering the Dominicans’ 29-man pool is a legitimate NBA star in Karl Anthony Towns of the Minnesota Timberwolves and will be joined by Boston Celtics’ Al Horford and Indiana Pacers’ Chris Duarte.
Towns was formally included to the pool after expressing his interest in donning his country’s colors in the World Cup earlier this year. He last played for Dominican Republic in 2013 FIBA Americup.
Horford, on the other hand, could be making his return to the national team since the last time he played for them in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying tournament in 2012 while Duarte has been one of the team’s weapons during one of the World Cup qualifying windows last year.
Their inclusions serves bad news to Gilas and its hopes of advancing to the next round and becoming the best placed Asian team in the tournament.
Other notable names in the pool are some of Dominican Republic’s local top guns in Victor Liz and Gelvis Solano. The two were also part of the Dominican team that tormented a Tab Baldwin-coached and Kai Sotto-led Gilas, 94-67 in the OQT for the Tokyo Games in 2021.
The Nationals play the Dominicans in front of what is expected to be a record-breaking crowd at the Philippine Arena on the opening day of the World Cup on Aug. 25.
Gilas head coach Chot Reyes and the rest of his coaching staff, however, are pulling all the stops to better prepare the Nationals in the looming collision against the world’s 23rd best team.
The Nationals are looking to secure a tuneup game against Puerto Rico at the end of its pocket tournament in China and will also play Mexico here in the country in an effort to simulate the play style of a South American team like the Dominican Republic.
