By JONAS TERRADO
Kiefer Ravena, whose bid to play one PBA conference for NLEX before heading back to Japan remains at an impasse, will suit up for Gilas Pilipinas for its two exhibition matches against old rival South Korea on June 17 and 18.
Ravena was among the 12 players listed on the official roster announced by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas for the pair of games at the Anyang Gymnasium in Gyeonngi-do.
Dwight Ramos is also set for a return to national team duties after missing the recent Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, Vietnam due to commitments in Japan’s B.League.
Ramos recently signed with Levanga Hokkaido after spending the past season with the Toyama Grouses.
Carl Tamayo of UAAP champion University of the Philippines and Rhenz Abando of NCAA titlist Letran are also included in the series which will be held in preparation for the World Cup Asian Qualifiers and the FIBA Asia Cup.
Naturalized player Ange Kouame and fellow Ateneo players Dave Ildefonso and Geo Chiu plus their now former teammate SJ Belangel, who is bound for the Korean Basketball League, are also in the mix.
Rounding out the roster are LeBron Lopez and Will Navarro, who played in the SEAG, Far Eastern University guard RJ Abarrientos and Kevin Quiambao.
Serbian coach Nenad Vucinic will call the shots for Gilas for the two-game series and also the third window of the Asian Qualifiers.
Kouame, Tamayo, Belangel, Abarrientos and Chiu will return to national team duties for the first time since taking part in last year’s Asia Cup Qualifiers and Olympic Qualifying Tournament during the time of coach Tab Baldwin.
