Kai Sotto, Angelo Kouame headline 12-man lineup for FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers

The frontcourt duo of Angelo Kouame and Kai Sotto will headline the Gilas Pilipinas' 12-man roster for the third and final window of the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers this week.

The two big men will be joined by promising stars in newly-named team captain Isaac Go, Dwight Ramos, Justine Baltazar, Javi Gomez de Liaño, Mike Nieto, Will Navarro, and Jaydee Tungcab.

Completing the cast are newcomers RJ Abarrientos, SJ Belangel, and Carl Tamayo.

This will be the first time that Sotto, 19, and Kouame, 23, will team up for the national team and the 7-foot-3 Sotto could not wait to once again represent the Philippines in the global scene.

"It's exciting just to imagine that I can share the court with him (Kouame). Besides Ange, there are really good players out there like Geo Chiu and Carl Tamayo. There's AJ Edu also who is not yet here but I'm excited to play with him again," said Sotto, who recently signed with Adelaide 36ers in NBL.

Meanwhile, the 6-foot-10 Kouame will get his first taste of the storied Philippine-South Korea rivalry but the Ateneo center said he's up for the challenge.

"It feels good, actually. I’ve been waiting for that (suiting up for the national team) for so long and now it’s happening so I’m really excited," said Kouame, the UAAP Season 81 Rookie of the Year.

"I heard a lot of stories (of the Philippine-Korea rivalry). They actually told me they were here when the Philippines won at home and it was really a great thing for people, especially for the organization."

Gilas will first face the Koreans on Wednesday before clashing with Indonesia on the 19th and Korea again on the 20th.

—Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA News