Philippines, 30 Jan 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


GILAS PILIPINAS TO FACE ARGENTINA AND PUERTO RICO WITH NBA PLAYERS IN FIBA WORLD CUP ELIMS


PhilBoxing.com




Gilas Pilipinas national men?s basketball team was drawn into Group B with Argentina, Croatia, Greece, Puerto Rico, and Senegal for the FIBA World Cup in Spain. The Gilas players will have the the chance to play against Argentina?s clairvoyant superstar Manu Ginobili and other NBA stars as early as the preliminaries. The 35-year-old Ginobili is interested in playing for his national team if he stays healthy.

?It?s exciting to have the chance to play against a world class player and team like Manu Ginobili and Argentina,? Gilas team captain Jimmy Alapag was quoted by interAKTV. ?It will be a huge challenge for us, but a great opportunity to play one of the best in the world.?

?I?m excited,? added Gabe Norwood. ?I thought he retired from international play, but Manu or any player in our group will be world-class caliber, which is the ultimate challenge.?

Argentina will also parade other NBA players including Luis Scola of the Indiana Pacers, Pablo Prigioni of the New York Knicks, and Carlos Delfino of the Milwaukee Bucks. Puerto Rico has former Petron import Renaldo Balkman which was metted a lifetime ban from the PBA last year. He helped Puerto Rico in the FIBA Americas Championship last year.

Other Puerto Rican NBA players are JJ Barea of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Mo Harkless of the Orlando Magic, and former NBA point guard Carlos Arroyo. ?Puerto Rico will be another incredibly tough test for us. Balkman was dominant in his PBA stint, and he?ll also have NBA guards Barea and Arroyo with him in Spain,? said Alapag.

But Barangay Ginebra San Miguel star guard LA Tenorio was excited about playing with the best teams of the world. ?Actually, I don?t look forward to playing against Ginobili lang. I?m really looking forward to play in the World Cup against the top 24 teams in the world. It?s gonna be hard for sure,? said Tenorio over inter AKTV.

GROUP A - Spain, Serbia, France, Brazil, Egypt, and Iran
GROUP B - Philippines, Senegal, Puerto Rico, Argentina. Greece, Croatia
GROUP C - Dominican Republic, Turkey, USA, Finland, New Zealand, Ukraine
GROUP D - Slovenia, Lithuania, Angola, South Korea, Mexico, Australia

The tournament will take place in six cities Madrid, Barcelona, Sevilla, Bilbao, Gran Canaria and Granada in Spain.

Photo: NBA player Manu Genobili (C) anchors Argentina in the Olympics.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Press Conference Notes: Puerto Rican Star Xander Zayas Ready for Saturday's Hometown Unification Battle against Abass Baraou
    , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • PFDA Grass Nationals in Tagum on June 5-7
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • ‘THE RING 6’ TEOFIMO LOPEZ VS. SHAKUR STEVENSON PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
    , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • NEWCASTLE PRESS CONFERENCE: WHAT WAS SAID AS JOSH KELLY AND BAKHRAM MURTAZALIEV ARE KEPT APART AFTER HEATED FACE-OFF
    , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • Weights From ProBoxTV’s ‘Flores vs. Castillo’ at Live! Casino Hotel Maryland
    , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • WAPA Deportes Confirmed as Puerto Rican Broadcast Home for Saturday’s Xander Zayas vs. Abass Baraou Title Unification Showdown
    , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • Legendary Panamanian Juan Carlos Tapia will be inducted into the Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • Manny Pacquiao Promotions Announces Additional Matchups for Saturday, February 28 Event at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York
    , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • SWERVE TV STRIKES MULTI-YEAR PARTNERSHIP WITH GOLDEN BOY PROMOTIONS TO EXPAND PREMIUM BOXING CONTENT
    , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • Leuenbergers to join IRONMAN® 70.3 Davao
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • Open Workout: Xander Zayas and Abass Baraou Prepare For Saturday's Unification Showdown in Puerto Rico
    , Thu, 29 Jan 2026
  • Cabrera-Zapata Kicks Off All Star Boxing's 2026 Season
    , Thu, 29 Jan 2026
  • Manny Pacquiao Chess Philippines: Cash prizes, FIDE rating at stakes this Sunday
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 29 Jan 2026
  • IBP Fun Run & Family Day on February 15
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 29 Jan 2026
  • TEOFIMO LOPEZ AND SHAKUR STEVENSON FACE-OFF AT KNICKS GAME AS COUNTDOWN TO ‘THE RING 6’ ON SATURDAY BEGINS
    , Wed, 28 Jan 2026
  • Davao to sponsor P500K in IRONMAN 70.3
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 28 Jan 2026
  • JOSH KELLY SOUNDS WARNING TO WORLD TITLE RIVAL BAKHRAM MURTAZALIEV AS HE TARGETS HISTORIC NORTH EAST HOMECOMING
    , Wed, 28 Jan 2026
  • Gallegos and Alvarez Shine Bright with Knockout Wins at Fontainebleau Las Vegas
    , Wed, 28 Jan 2026
  • Pedro Carrasco Remembered in Spain 25 Years After His Passing
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 28 Jan 2026
  • Gensan Outdoor, Gensan Educator support MFPI 5th Mindanao Summit in Mt. Apo
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 28 Jan 2026
  • Vitor vs Subkhankulov, Tapales vs Kalsynov in Double IBF Asia Title Fights in Moscow on Feb. 13
    By Dong Secuya, , Tue, 27 Jan 2026
  • “It’s about owning my own journey” Jeanine Brown retuns for Title Clash March 13 – Thunderdome 53
    , Tue, 27 Jan 2026
  • Long Boxing Journey settles in New Bedford, MA for Junior Featherweight prospect Joshua Alvarado
    , Tue, 27 Jan 2026
  • Steph Curry is 19th leading scorer of the NBA
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 27 Jan 2026
  • Ocum is WBC Asian lightweight champ
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 27 Jan 2026




  •  



     
    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
    © 2026 philboxing.com.