Gabe Norwood excited to cheer for rising Pinoy stars in 2023 FIBA World Cup

The future of Philippine basketball looks bright and Filipino-American player Gabe Norwood is looking forward to cheering the next generation of hoops stars.

Speaking on "The Howie Severino Podcast," the Gilas Pilipinas veteran said he is a fan of many young players and he admires what they are doing for their development.

"Among the young guys? I'm a fan of so many guys," Norwood said. "You look at what Thirdy [Ravena's] doing there in Japan, it's really inspiring, to be honest."

"To go out to Japan, to get hurt, to get injured and come back and really put on a show in his first few games back and hopefully he continues to do well," he added.

Ravena is the first Asian import for the season of San-En Neophoenix in the Japan Professional Basketball League. He returned to action after contracting COVID-19 and hurting a finger but he later injured his knee.

Norwood also mentioned Carl Tamayo and Juan Gomez de Liaño as players to watch out for in the next few years.

Tamayo is a Batang Gilas standout who will join the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons. Gomez de Liaño, meanwhile, has been the star for UP in the UAAP in the last few seasons.

"I'm getting excited talking about the future of the game here because I'm really looking forward to 2023 and cheering those guys on," Norwood said.

The Philippines will host the 2023 FIBA World Cup along with Indonesia and Japan.

—Justin Kenneth Carandang/MGP, GMA News