Philippines, 26 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:

  • Eubank vs Benn: Like Father Like Son
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 26 Apr 2025
  • Eubank Jr. Misses Weight Ahead of Highly Anticipated Benn Clash
    , Sat, 26 Apr 2025
  • Rafael Espinoza: “I’m Going To Steal The Show On May 4!”
    , Sat, 26 Apr 2025
  • CO-PROMOTER OF TONIGHT'S ‘LA FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS’ SAYS FIRST EVENT IS ONLY THE BEGINNING
    , Sat, 26 Apr 2025
  • “H2O” SYLVE RETURNS AS THE MAIN EVENT AMADO VARGAS AS CO-MAIN IN ACTION PACKED APRIL 26 FIGHT CARD
    , Sat, 26 Apr 2025
  • Gallegos, CPC captures IIEE Western Visayas Regional elimination chess tournament
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 26 Apr 2025
  • A Seat at the Table of Antonio Lopez Aldeguer: A Reminiscence
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Fri, 25 Apr 2025
  • LA Clippers Rout Denver, 117-83 But Detroit, Memphis Fall Short
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Fri, 25 Apr 2025
  • Filipino David Ray Sarmiento finishes 2nd in Germany chess tilt
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 25 Apr 2025
  • Verano stops Sohsit of Thailand in Clash of Nations
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 25 Apr 2025
  • Land of the Rising Star: WBO Welter Champ Brian Norman Jr. Defends Crown June 19 Against Jin Sasaki in Tokyo; Araneta vs Simsri for IBF Title in Co-Feature
    , Fri, 25 Apr 2025
  • Filipino trainer scores big win
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 25 Apr 2025
  • Abalos, Reyes, Manalo to grace billiardfest on May 4
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 25 Apr 2025
  • EUBANK JR VS. BENN + UNDERCARD FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
    , Fri, 25 Apr 2025
  • June 21: Jahi Tucker-Lorenzo Simpson Middleweight Grudge Match Added to Vito Mielnicki Jr.- Kamil Gardzielik Card at Prudential Center LIVE on ESPN+
    , Fri, 25 Apr 2025
  • SALITA PROMOTIONS ADDS TWO MORE ELITE WORLD CHAMPIONS TO STAR-STUDDED ROSTER 
    , Fri, 25 Apr 2025
  • Toro Promotions, Inc. Flexing its Heavyweight Muscles Around the boxing world
    , Fri, 25 Apr 2025
  • Unbeaten pro boxer Anthony Velasquez Building his brand promoting this Saturday’s Main event fight at home in Springfield, Mass.
    , Fri, 25 Apr 2025
  • Disturbing, Eyebrow-Raising Happenings Involving Prominent Filipino Fighters (Part 2)
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Thu, 24 Apr 2025
  • The Monster Arrives: Naoya Inoue Is Back in America!
    , Thu, 24 Apr 2025
  • Prayers for Jonathan
    By Joaquin Henson, , Thu, 24 Apr 2025
  • EUBANK JR VS. BENN MEDIA WORKOUT QUOTES
    , Thu, 24 Apr 2025
  • Young, Llavanes power Camarines past Toledo in PCAP chess tilt
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 24 Apr 2025
  • June 27: Christian Mbilli-Maciej Sulecki Interim Super Middleweight World Title Showdown Set for Videotron Centre in Quebec City LIVE on ESPN+
    , Thu, 24 Apr 2025
  • Undefeated junior middleweight prospect Nisa “Sweet-Destruction” Rodriguez Fighting this Saturday on a Pro-Am Card along with her son in Riverhead, NY
    , Thu, 24 Apr 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.