Kai Sotto, Kobe Paras banner Gilas prospects for 2023 FIBA World Cup

MANILA, Philippines – Five years to the country’s hosting of the 19th edition of the FIBA World Cup, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas has started identifying possible candidates for the national team that will slug it out with the world’s best before the home fans.

Seven-foot-2 16-year-old giant Kai Sotto, 6-foot-11 18-year-old Ariel John Edu, athletic wingman Kobe Paras and Ateneo standouts Thirdy Ravena, Matthew Nieto and Isaac Go banner what Gilas coach Chot Reyes called “23 for 23.”

Cage patron Manny V. Pangilinan, SBP president Al Panlilio, SBP executive director Sonny Barrios, PBA chairman Ricky Vargas, Gilas team manager Butch Antonio and Reyes, in a meeting at Shangri-La at the Fort Thursday night, listed down 23 players who could well be bright prospects for the 2023 World Cup.

Included in the roster are five players playing college ball abroad — Cal State Northridge’s Paras, Arizona State U’s Remy Martin, California State U’s Dwight Ramos, Llandover College’s Edu and Wake Forest’s Troy Rike.

Nieto and Martin lead the guard roster that includes San Beda’s Robert Lee Bolick, Lyceum’s Jaymar Perez, and UP’s Juan Gomez de Liano and Andres Paul Desiderio.

Early candidates at wing spots are Ravena, Paras, Ramos, Rodolfo Alejandrino III and Joshua Sinclair of National U, Kenneth James Tuffin and Arvin Dave Tolentino of FEU, Javee Mocon of San Beda and Jeo Ambohot of Letran.

And aside from Sotto, Edu, 6-8 Go and 6-8 Rike, the other big men are 6-7 Abu Jahal Tratter of La Salle, 6-7 Carl Vincent Tamayo of National U, 6-9 Kenmark Carino of San Beda and 6-6 Will Allen Gozum of Mapua.

The oldest in the whole group are Perez and Tratter at 24. Martin, De Liano, Ramos, Sinclair, Sotto, Edu, Tamayo, Carino and Gozum are all 19 or below.

Reyes, however, clarified that the list is “by no means final.”

The Gilas chief and his staff would observe the development and progress of these young players.

“They’re not going to hold practices this early. It’s more of tracking their career and games,” said Barrios.

“And it doesn’t mean the current Gilas players are automatically out of the 2023 team. If they’re still on top of their games, of course they would be considered,” Barrios also said.

“MVP just wants forward planning in the same way gusto na niyang pagisipan ang operations of our hosting,” Barrios added.

The Gilas coaches would also be in the lookout for other talents who would come out in the course of the country’s preparation for the biggest sporting event to happen in the Philippines in years.

Then there could already be the new Gilas naturalized player since Andray Blatche is 37 by the 2023 World Cup.

Part of SBP’s national team program is to have a pool of two to three naturalized players to alternately play for Gilas in various international tourneys.