Philippines, 02 Apr 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


GILAS PILIPINAS NEEDS TO BEAT SENEGAL, PUERTO RICO TO MAKE FINAL 16 IN WORLD CUP


PhilBoxing.com




Gilas Pilipinas head coach Chot Reyes believes the Philippine National team will have to beat Senegal and Puerto Rico to be able to make it to the final 16 in the World Cup in Spain in late August.

Reyes spoke to the Manila Standard minutes after the draw which was telecast ?live? in the basketball crazy Philippines by Solar Sports at 2:00 a.m.

Gilas Pilipinas is bracketed with Argentina, Croatia, Greece, Puerto Rico, and Senegal in Group B of the competition with their games to be played in Seville whose mayor approached Reyes after the draw, introduced himself and said how happy he was to have the Philippines play in his city.

Reyes said he would have been extremely happy if the Philippines was drawn in Group C which comprised the Dominican Republic, Turkey, USA, Finland, New Zealand and Ukraine but told us ?we need to pay our dues.?

He said that while Senegal had a line-up of players who are ?tall and athletic, we can play with them? while Puerto Rico is bannered by former PBA Petron Blaze import Renaldo Balkman who was banned for life by Commissioner Chito Salud after he virtually strangled teammate Arwind Santos during an altercation on the court.

Since his return to Puerto Rico after the PBAban, Balkman has played outstanding basketball, leading the Puerto Rican national team with 18.7 points and 8.9 rebounds per game as they qualified for the World Cup following a second place finish in the FIBA Americas tournament.

Reports out of Spain said the Senegalese have a couple of former NBA players who are likely to be included in their World Cup squad. They include centers Hamady N?Diaye and Mouhamed Sene.
Reyes buckled down to work immediately after the groupings were known and said teams from other groups were interested in playing tune-up games with the Philippines which he disclosed was being arranged by a Spanish contact Igor Crespo who is a tournament organizer and an overall basketball guy who has arranged such games for other countries in the past.

Reyes said already Crespo was working on tune-up games against Brazil, Mexico and New Zealand.

The Gilas Pilipinas coach will return to Manila on February 8 and immerse himself and his coaching and administrative staff in working out details of the nationals training program and deciding on the sixteen players he plans to invite to the pool even as he is hoping that Congress would approve the naturalization of NBA players JaVale McGee of the Denver Nuggets and Andray Blatche of the Brooklyn Nets.

In the game against Argentina who won the gold medal at the 2004 Olympic Games the Filipinos may have to contend with a powerful line-up that could include San Antonio Spurs superstar Manu Ginobili who told a press conference last year ?If I am in good shape, there are more chances that I will play the World Cup.?
Other outstanding NBA stars in the Argentine squad are Indiana Pacers forward Luis Scola and New York Knicks point guard Pablo Prigioni aside from Carlos Delfino of the Milwaukee Bucks.
Greece will also likely include Nick Calathes and Kosta Koufos of the Memphis Grizzlies and ?Greak Freak? rookie Giannis Antetokounmpo while Croatia is expected to bank on former NBVA players Toko Ukic and Damir Markota together with highly touted 19 year old NBA draft prospect Dario Saric.

Senegal also has a handful of former NBA players eligible for its roster, including 7 foot centers Hamady N?Diaye who plays in the NBA DLeague and Mouhamed Sene who currently suits up for the Sharks Antibes of France. The 6?11? Sene is well known for his shot blocking ability because of his 7 foot 8 1/2 inch wingspan..


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Rise of the Samurai: Inoue vs Nakatani in 2026
    By Carlos Costa, , Wed, 02 Apr 2025
  • Undefeated super middleweight prospect Tommy Hyde a true Irish Road Warrior In Australia for April 11th fight
    , Wed, 02 Apr 2025
  • Melvin the Avenger
    By Joaquin Henson, , Wed, 02 Apr 2025
  • WORLD-RANKED LIGHTWEIGHT ARMANDO MARTINEZ RABI TO FACE ALBERTO GUEVARA IN MAIN EVENT OF FISTS OF FURY 6
    , Wed, 02 Apr 2025
  • Carlos Flowers Shines on Day One for Team USA in World Boxing Cup: Brazil 2025
    , Wed, 02 Apr 2025
  • Tellez Sisters Reina and Gabriela Sign with Boxlab Promotions
    , Wed, 02 Apr 2025
  • Arena Grand Master Mohamad Sacar sweeps 1st Vientiane Open FIDE Rated Standard Chess Tournament
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 02 Apr 2025
  • Unbeaten junior middleweight prospect Anthony “ATV” Velazquez Ready to bust out of New England
    , Tue, 01 Apr 2025
  • BOOTS VS. STANIONIS – ‘MAKE THE DAYS COUNT’ PREMIERES NOW
    , Tue, 01 Apr 2025
  • “THE FILIPINO FLASH” NONITO DONAIRE TO MAKE FIRST VISIT TO CANASTOTA FOR 2025 HALL OF FAME WEEKEND FESTIVITIES
    , Tue, 01 Apr 2025
  • Tokyo Olympian Rashida Ellis signs long term management contract with Trifon Petrov
    , Tue, 01 Apr 2025
  • Fightbook Adds Brendan Gibbons to Lead Athlete & Fan Activation Strategy
    , Tue, 01 Apr 2025
  • BOXLAB PROMOTIONS RETURNS TO ORLANDO FOR ACTION-PACKED FIGHT NIGHT ON APRIL 18
    , Tue, 01 Apr 2025
  • Takeaways From Last Weekend's Fights in Japan
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Mon, 31 Mar 2025
  • Lope Tenorio: El Bulakeño Matón (The Bulacan Brawler)
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Mon, 31 Mar 2025
  • Luka Doncic's Shock Factor for LAL Dissipating? Dallas Mavs Getting Playoff Bid Boost From AD
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Mon, 31 Mar 2025
  • Jerusalem Easily Repeats Over Shigeoka, Spoils A Huge Boxing Weekend for Japan
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Mon, 31 Mar 2025
  • THE INTERNATIONAL BOXING HALL OF FAME REMEMBERS LIVINGSTONE BRAMBLE
    , Mon, 31 Mar 2025
  • IIEE GenX 3-peat, SAEP Millennial Champ in PTC WED Basketball
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 31 Mar 2025
  • Jerusalem dominates Shigeoka in rematch, retains WBC World title
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 30 Mar 2025
  • AND STILL! WILLIAM "EL CAMARÓN" ZEPEDA RETAINS WBC INTERIM LIGHTWEIGHT WORLD TITLE WITH MAJORITY DECISION VICTORY AGAINST TEVIN "2X" FARMER
    , Sun, 30 Mar 2025
  • A Second Coat of Paint: Mikaela Mayer Defeats Sandy Ryan in Action-Packed Rematch
    , Sun, 30 Mar 2025
  • Cartel, 5 others share lead after Day 1 of 6th AQ Prime Standard Open Chess Tournament
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 30 Mar 2025
  • Jerusalem, Shigeoka successfully make weight for their WBC World Title rematch
    , Sat, 29 Mar 2025
  • Rematches Rule the Day with Zepeda/Farmer & Mayer/Ryan on ESPN and DAZN
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 29 Mar 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.