Kiefer Ravena, NCAA's Calvin Oftana and Kemark Cariño head into Gilas bubble in Calamba

The first batch of players included in the Gilas Pilipinas pool for the February window of the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers have started coming into the training bubble in Calamba, Laguna on Sunday.

Included in the pool are 2019 PBA Rookie Draft selections Isaac Go, Matt Nieto, Mike Nieto, and Rey Suerte.

Gilas cadets from the team that played in the November window such as San Beda University's Calvin Oftana and Kemark Cariño, and other collegiate standouts Javi Gomez de Liano (UP), Dave Ildefonso (ADMU), Justine Baltazar (DLSU), and William Navarro (ADMU) were also asked to rejoin the training.

Completing the first batch is Kiefer Ravena of the NLEX Road Warriors and Ateneo big man Angelo Kouame, who is a candidate for naturalization.

Ravena and Oftana shared snippets of their entry to the bubble.

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Al Panlilio said in a statement he is thankful for the players' commitment to the team.

“These young men have not only proven their dedication to the Gilas program but have also shown their capability to work well as a team as we saw in the two games against Thailand in the last window,” he said.

The second batch, which will have players from the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), will enter the Gilas training bubble starting January 22. 

Players and personnel inside the training bubble will be subject to health protocols prescribed by the Inter-Agency Task Force on COVID-19.

The Philippines will host the third and last window of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers in February in Clark, Pampanga. 

Gilas Pilipinas swept Thailand in the November window of the qualifiers in Manama, Bahrain and currently holds a 3-0 card in the tournament.

Red Lions Oftana and Cariño play in the National Collegiate Athletic Association which will air on GMA Network. — LA, GMA News