By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
APART from keeping themselves busy preparing for their PBA Philippine Cup debut later this week, the Magnolia Hotshots Pambansang Manok duo of Paul Lee and Mark Barroca are also sharpening themselves up for another tour of duty with the national team as part of Gilas Pilipinas.
Named to the 14-man pool of the Philippine Basketball Association-backed Gilas team set to see action in the sixth and final window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup Asian Qualifiers next month, both players said they are savoring the opportunity given to them to wear the country’s colors anew and excited to contribute their fair share in helping the team make it to its second consecutive World Cup stint.
Mr. Lee makes his return to the team after missing the last window in December.
The call-up is being viewed by Mr. Lee, the best player of the conference in last year’s Governors’ Cup and part of the champion team, with huge honor and he has vowed to give his all and help Gilas Pilipinas, something he was not able to do last time around.
“I’m honored to be selected again and be part of the pool. I’m happy that I was given the opportunity to help the team bounce back in the next window of the qualifiers,” said Mr. Lee at the Gilas practice last week at the Meralco Gym.
“As a player I really wanted to help the team last time. The team gave their all in the last window and it’s just unfortunate that things did not go our way. Hopefully this time it will be different,” he added.
In the two games in the last window which were both held here in Manila, Gilas lost each time, bowing to Kazakhstan, 92-88, on Nov. 30, and to Iran, 78-70, on Dec. 3.
The twin defeats dropped the Yeng Guiao-coached Philippine team to fourth place in the merged Group F of the qualifiers with a 5-5 record and now needing to win its remaining two games to have a shot at advancing to the next round by landing in the top three in the group for automatic entry or as the best fourth-placed team in the two groups left. Gilas will play its remaining games on Feb. 21 against Qatar and Feb. 24 versus Kazahkstan.
Mr. Barroca, meanwhile, is once again part of the Gilas pool, nearly a decade since suiting up for the team under Serbian coach Rajko Toroman.
The finals most valuable player of the Governors’ Cup said that to be back in Gilas was something he did not see coming but nonetheless welcomes.
“I’m so happy to be back with the team. Some of them were my teammates in the first Gilas team and I’m looking forward to playing with them again,” said Mr. Barroca.
In choosing the Hotshots duo as part of the pool, Mr. Guiao said the two were selected for their on-court chemistry that was clearly exhibited when they won the Governors’ Cup title.
Having served the national team was also considered since they already know what is expected of them.
Apart from Messrs. Lee and Barroca, also part of the Gilas Pilipinas pool for the six window are naturalized player Andray Blatche, Jayson Castro, Scottie Thompson, Marcio Lassiter, Gabe Norwood, Troy Rosario, Japeth Aguilar, JP Erram, June Mar Fajardo, Raymond Almazan, and Roger Pogoy.
Christian Standhardinger, meanwhile, will serve as a backup naturalized player. Messrs. Lee and Barroca and the Hotshots will make their PBA Philippine Cup debut on Feb. 3 against the TNT KaTropa.