A look back at Gilas’ 23 for 23 list: Where are they now?

In January 2018, Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes released the “23 for 2023” list– a set of young, up-and-coming cagers who were looked at to represent the country when the 2023 FIBA World Cup came around in five years’ time.

Though it was not meant to be a final list, it was at the time a glimpse into the potential future of Philippine basketball.

Now just days away from the biggest international event in basketball, here’s a look back on that list and how the players are doing today.

All of those players on the list were aged 24 and below during the time of the release. All of them were amateurs, playing for either collegiate teams or in some cases, high school squads. The oldest player on the list was CJ Perez at 24 while Kai Sotto and Carl Tamayo were the youngest at just 16 years old.

While many of them ended up representing Gilas at some point in their careers, only six of them – Perez, Sotto, Tamayo, Dwight Ramos, AJ Edu, and Thirdy Ravena – were named to the actual pool for the 2023 World Cup in Manila.

12 of the players have or are currently playing professionally in overseas leagues such as the Japan B.League and the Korean KBL with some having experience in Lithuania, Iceland, Australia, and New Zealand as well. Several others are in the PBA while only one player – Will Gozum – is still in the collegiate ranks.

Robert Bolick
THEN: San Beda Red Lions
NOW: Fukushima Firebonds (Japan)

Robert Bolick won three NCAA Philippines titles as part of the San Beda Red Lions before becoming a steady presence for the NorthPort Batang Pier in the PBA since being drafted by the team third overall in 2018. Throughout his four-year tenure with NorthPort, the six-foot guard averaged 17.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 5.5 rebounds per game.

Now, he will be taking his talents overseas after signing with a Japanese B.League Division 2 team, the Fukushima Firebonds in May.

The 27-year-old has also represented the Philippines several times, including in the 2019 FIBA World Cup, producing numbers of 8.6 points, 1.2 rebounds, and 1.0 assists in five games.

However, despite playing for Gilas again in 2021 during a window in the World Cup Asian Qualifiers, Bolick was not included in the 21-man pool for this year’s edition of the World Cup.

CJ Perez
THEN: LPU Pirates
NOW: San Miguel Beermen (PBA)

Picked in the same draft class as Bolick, CJ Perez was taken as the No. 1 pick by the Columbian Dyip (now named Terrafirma Dyip). The six-foot-two cager averaged career-highs of 24.4 points per game and 4.3 assists per outing while also grabbing 6.8 rebounds a night in his final season with Terrafirma before he was traded. In February 2021, Perez was moved to the San Miguel Beermen, where he still currently plays.

For the national team, Perez first played for Gilas in 2016 for the FIBA Asia Challenge. Ever since then, the 29-year-old has been a staple in the Gilas Pilipinas setup, featuring in both 5-on-5 and 3x3 tournaments. Most notably, Perez shone bright during the 2019 FIBA World Cup wherein he averaged 12.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.6 assists.

He is a member of the 2023 Gilas pool for the FIBA World Cup.

Juan Gomez De Liaño
THEN: UP Fighting Maroons
NOW: Seoul SK Knights (Korea)

Juan Gomez de Liaño’s basketball career has taken him all over the world ever since moving on from his collegiate team, the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons, in 2019. After a couple of stints in the Dubai International Tournament, PBA D-League, and a couple of 3x3 tournaments, the six-foot-one guard signed his first professional contract in 2021 with Japanese squad Earth Friends Tokyo Z in Division 2 of the B.League.

After his time in Japan, Gomez De Liaño flew over to Lithuania to play for BC Wolves during their 2022-2023 Lietuvos krepšinio lyga (LKL) season. Most recently, the former Fighting Maroon inked a deal with Korean Basketball League (KBL) team Seoul SK Knights, agreeing to a three-year contract (with the final year being a player’s option).

He has suited up for Gilas several times, including one window in the 2023 Asian Qualifiers for the World Cup held last year.

Remy Martin
THEN: Arizona State Sun Devils
NOW: Keflavík (Iceland)

Filipino-American Remy Macaspac Martin was part of the Arizona State Sun Devils but transferred a few years later to the University of Kansas (KU). After winning the US NCAA Division 1 National Championship with the Kansas Jayhawks, Martin went undrafted in the 2022 NBA draft. The six-foot guard was then selected 40th overall by the Cleveland Charge in the NBA G League draft, but did not make its final roster.

In November 2022, Martin signed for Greek club Lavrio wherein he averaged 6.1 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in 12 games. The Filipino-American has recently signed a contract with Keflavík of the Icelandic Úrvalsdeild karla.

Despite showing a lot of interest in playing for the Philippine national team, Martin was not able to obtain a Philippine passport before the age of 16, therefore only making him eligible as a naturalized player under the current FIBA rules.

Matt Nieto
THEN: Ateneo Blue Eagles
NOW: NLEX Road Warriors (PBA)

Three-time University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) champion Matt Nieto was selected third overall in the special Gilas PBA draft in 2019. He made several appearances for Gilas, like in the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers, before officially joining his PBA club, the NLEX Road Warriors, in 2022.

In the 2022-2023 PBA season, the six-foot-one guard put up 6.8 points, 3.8 assists, and 2.7 rebounds per game throughout the three conferences.

The former Ateneo Blue Eagle will still suit up for the Road Warriors this upcoming PBA season.

Paul Desiderio
THEN: UP Fighting Maroons
NOW: Manila Chooks (FIBA 3x3)

After three years with the Blackwater Elite/Bossing, where he put up averages of 5.0 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.0 assists, Paul Desiderio announced that he would retire from the PBA in 2022, citing that he wanted to allow his ACL injury to heal while also starting a new chapter in his life.

Shortly after leaving the PBA, the six-foot-one shooter decided to take his talents to 3x3 basketball. The 26-year-old recently played with Manila Chooks in the Ulaanbaatar Super Quest and 2023 FIBA 3x3 World Tour Manila Masters, where his team placed 7th and 10th respectively.

Thirdy Ravena
THEN: Ateneo Blue Eagles
San-en NeoPhoenix (Japan)

After a remarkable collegiate career with Ateneo that included three UAAP championships and three Finals MVP awards, Thirdy Ravena signed with B.League club San-en NeoPhoenix in 2020, making him the first-ever player to be signed under the league’s Asian Player Quota system.

Since then, more Filipino players have gone overseas to try and replicate Ravena’s success. In his most recent season with San-en, the 26-year-old averaged 11.5 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 4.3 assists in 60 games played. The six-foot-three guard/forward will stay with the NeoPhoenix after getting a fresh contract extension with the B.League club.

Alongside his older brother Kiefer, the former Ateneo Blue Eagle star was included in the 21-man pool for the 2023 FIBA World Cup.

Jjay Alejandro
THEN: NU Bulldogs
NOW: Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters (PBA)

A former team captain of the Philippines national youth team, Jjay Alejandro was picked eighth overall by the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in the 2018 PBA draft. After his first year in the pros, Alejandro was picked up by the TNT Tropang Giga where he played a few conferences. This year, the 28-year-old was a part of a three-team, six-player trade wherein he ended up with the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters.

The six-foot-two former NU Bulldog averaged 3.5 points in roughly 10 minutes of action during his first conference with the Fuel Masters.

Ken Tuffin
THEN: FEU Tamaraws
NOW: Wellington Saints (New Zealand)

Former Far Eastern University Tamaraw Ken Tuffin spent the first four years of his professional career in the New Zealand National Basketball League. After a season with the Taranaki Mountain Airs, the Filipino-Kiwi spent his next three NBL campaigns with the Wellington Saints, even helping them notch an NBL title in 2021.

Tuffin’s first season with the Saints was his most prolific as he churned out 8.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.2 steals in 20 outings.

Despite his successful expeditions in New Zealand, the 25-year-old has recently expressed his interest to come back to the Philippines and enter his name into the 2023 PBA Draft.

Jeo Ambohot
THEN: Letran Knights
NOW: Converge FiberXers (PBA)

A two-time National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) champion and a Finals MVP), Colegio de San Juan de Letran’s Jeo Ambohot was drafted third overall by the Converge FiberXers in the 2022 PBA Draft.

In his first conference with the FiberXers, the six-foot-seven Ambohot produced 6.2 points and 5.8 rebounds in 11 games, though he would see his role diminish in the Commissioner's and Governors’ Cup given the influx of big men Converge had at the time.

Now 26-years-old, the former Letran Knight is gearing up for his second year with Converge.

Kobe Paras
THEN: Creighton Bluejays
NOW: Free Agent

Kobe Paras, then billed from Creighton University, returned to the Philippines to play for the UP Fighting Maroons in the UAAP, helping lead his team to the Final Four.

Paras’ first shot at the professional scene came when he signed with Niigata Albirex BB of the Japanese B.League. In 49 games, the six-foot-six wing averaged 8.2 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.2 assists. Paras’ tenure with the Albirex BB would be short lived after not being re-signed for the following season. He would stay in Japan and move to Altiri Chiba of B.League Division 2. Paras would go on to produce 5.3 points, 1.0 assists, and 0.9 rebounds in 33 games before mutually parting ways with the club in March 2023.

Currently, there are no announcements yet on the 25-year-old’s next destination.

Dwight Ramos
THEN: California State University
NOW: Levanga Hokkaido (Japan)

Dwight Ramos committed to play for the Ateneo Blue Eagles but decided to forego his lone year of eligibility in the UAAP to turn pro during the pandemic.

Ramos inked a deal with Japanese B.League team Toyama Grouses in September 2021. The six-foot-four winger averaged 10.0 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.1 steals in 46 games for Toyama but was not renewed for the 2022-2023 season.

Ramos, however, remained in Japan after Levanga Hokkaido signed him as their Asian Quota player. The 24-year-old steadily paced himself with his new team as he put up 9.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.7 steals, prompting Levanga to extend his contract for at least one more year.

Beloved by Filipino fans, Ramos has been an integral part of Gilas since 2020 and is included in the 21-man pool for the 2023 FIBA World Cup.

Joshua Sinclair
THEN: National University
NOW: Free Agent

Ever since his inclusion in the pool, Joshua Sinclair unluckily struggled after suffering an ACL tear on his right knee during his first collegiate year. Upon returning, the former Gilas youth team member was sparingly used in his comeback season with the National University Bulldogs. In UAAP Season 81, Sinclair averaged 3.4 points and 2.9 rebounds in roughly nine minutes of action.

After seeing limited playing time the year prior, Sinclair was ultimately excluded from the Bulldogs’ roster in season 82. The six-foot-four swingman hoped for a return to the Bulldogs for season 83 but was the season was halted due to the pandemic.

Since then, the former Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu standout moved to Australia and last played in the Western Sydney Basketball Association (WSBA) for DAS, Good Luck Meats 1, and most recently, the Turbo Chargers 1 back in August 2022.

Arvin Tolentino
THEN: FEU Tamaraws
NOW: NorthPort Batang Pier (PBA)

Drafted 10th overall in the 2019 PBA draft by the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, Arvin Tolentino steadily ramped up his production season-by-season.

After getting traded to the NorthPort Batang Pier in September 2020, the former FEU Tamaraw upped his scoring production to more than 10 points, averaging 14.5 points while also grabbing 4.8 rebounds this past season. Now one of the veterans in NorthPort, Tolentino is expected to take on an even bigger role after Bolick’s departure.

The former youth team member was also a part of the gold medal winning team at the 31st SEA Games in Cambodia held earlier this year.

Javee Mocon
THEN: San Beda Red Lions
NOW: Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters (PBA)

After spending a few years with the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, Javee Mocon signed a three-year deal with the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters in 2022. In his first season with the Fuel Masters, the six-foot-three guard averaged 11.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.1 steals per game.

Mocon was called-up to the national team during the first window of the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup but was unfortunate to miss out on a spot in the final-12.

Kai Sotto
THEN: Ateneo Blue Eaglets (high school)
NOW: Hiroshima Dragonflies (Japan)

In the public eye for quite some time now, Kai Sotto has made waves overseas. After his NBA G League stint with the G League Ignite never materialized, Sotto took his talents to Australia’s NBL and played for the Adelaide 36ers for two seasons. For the 36ers, the seven-foot-three center averaged 7.1 points and 4.5 rebounds in 50 games.

In 2023, the 21-year-old then flew to Japan and signed a contract with the Hiroshima Dragonflies of the B.League. After his first season with the Dragonflies, Sotto inked a contract extension with the team but with an opt-out clause in hopes of getting picked up by an NBA team.

Last June, the big man received an invite from the Orlando Magic to play in the NBA Las Vegas Summer League. Sotto would unfortunately see limited playing time in Las Vegas, with his best outing coming against the Portland Trail Blazers, putting up six points, four rebounds, and three blocks in 13 minutes.

Sotto is expected to return to Hiroshima but will first play for the national team as he was included in the 21-man pool for the 2023 FIBA World Cup.

Isaac Go
THEN: Ateneo Blue Eagles
NOW: Terrafirma Dyip (PBA)

Terrafirma Dyip (formerly known as Columbian Dyip) drafted Isaac Go first overall during the special Gilas Pilipinas draft in 2019. The six-foot-seven stretch big played for numerous iterations of the Philippine team, including the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament and the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers, both held in 2021

Go would eventually sign a contract with Terrafirma at the start of 2022, but was unlucky to sustain an ACL injury just five months after.

Healthy again, the former Ateneo Blue Eagle made his most-awaited return for the Dyip in the PBA On Tour, in which he averaged 9.6 points and 6.6 rebunds in 10 games.

Abu Tratter
THEN: De La Salle Green Archers
NOW: Magnolia Hotshots (PBA)

This offseason, the Magnolia Hotshots bolstered their frontline by trading for six-foot-five forward Abu Tratter. Before getting shipped out, the 30-year-old spent all of last year playing for the Converge FiberXers wherein he averaged 7.6 points and 5.0 rebounds.

In the PBA On Tour, the former De La Salle University Green Archer posted 7.5 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in eight games, helping the Hotshots sweep the preseason.

Tratter was added in a couple of 12-man Gilas Pilipinas that played in the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers in 2018 and first window of the FIBA Asia Cup 2021 Qualifiers in 2020.

AJ Edu
THEN: Llandovery College UK
NOW: Toyama Grouses (Japan)

After graduating from the University of Toledo last May, AJ Edu signed his first professional contract with the Toyama Grouses in the Japanese B.League.

The six-foot-ten big man made his Philippines debut in the 2018 Under-18 Asian Championships. Edu led the Gilas youth team with 14.2 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks, helping them finish fourth in the tournament and a spot in the Under-19 World Cup. Unfortunately, the Fil-Nigerian would suffer a torn ACL and torn meniscus on his right knee after just a few minutes in the cadet’s first game.

Edu would struggle in his collegiate career with the Toledo Rockets due recurring knee problems, only returning to full fitness in his senior year.

Nevertheless, Gilas coach Chot Reyes has seen enough of Edu to include him in the 21-man pool for the 2023 World Cup.

Carl Tamayo
THEN: NU Bullpups (high school)
NOW: Ryukyu Golden Kings (Japan)

Along with Sotto and Will Gozum, Tamayo was just a high school star when the list was released in 2018. Since then, he has completed a stellar collegiate career that includes winning the UP Fighting Maroons’ first UAAP title in 36 years.

Adding another championship under his belt, Tamayo won the Japan B.League crown with the Ryukyu Golden Kings in just his first year as a professional. The six-foot-eight forward concluded his rookie year with the Golden Kings with 2.7 points and 1.3 rebounds in 8.2 minutes per game.

Despite not logging much playing time, Tamayo is expected to run it back with the reigning B.League champions as they attempt to go back-to-back next season.

Despite getting included into the 21-man pool for the 2023 FIBA World Cup, the former Gilas youth team member begged off due to tendonitis. The 22-year-old said that he will use these next few months to heal and recover before returning to Japan.

Kemark Cariño
THEN: San Beda Red Lions
NOW: Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards (MPBL)

After forgoing his final playing year for the San Beda Red Lions, Kemark Cariño has been all over these past couple of years.

First, he signed a deal to play in Japan for the Aomori Wat’s of B.League Division 2. Cariño was sparingly used in his time with Aomori, only logging 1.9 points and 1.8 rebounds in 25 games.

The six-foot-eight cager would then return to the Philippines to play for Marinerong Pilipino in the 2022 PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup, before going abroad again to shortly suit up for Malaysian squad Pegasus Brunei.

In early 2023, Cariño played for Zamboanga Valientes in the ASEAN Basketball League and Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) team Muntinlupa Cagers. Now, the 25-year-old is playing for the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards where he is putting up 6.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, and a block in five games.

Will Gozum
THEN: Mapua Red Robins (high school)
NOW: Benilde Blazers (NCAA)

Will Gozum, prior to his inclusion on the 23 for 23 list, was a high school star for the Mapua Red Robins, winning NCAA Jrs. MVP honors in NCAA Season 93. He was also a former Gilas youth team member.

He committed to play for the UP Fighting Maroons in college, but left after two seasons to transfer to College of Saint Benilde in the NCAA.

The six-foot-seven cager is coming off a stellar season for the Blazers, putting up 16.7 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 1.7 assists to lead his team to a finals appearance in Season 98 and win the NCAA MVP award in the serniors ranks. Despite rumors of going pro, the reigning MVP ultimately decided to stay with Benilde for one more year.

Troy Rike
THEN: Wake Forest Demon Deacons
NOW: NorthPort Batang Pier (PBA)

Troy Rike, a former player for Wake Forest University, played one season for the NU Bulldogs in UAAP Season 81. After spending a couple of years playing for numerous teams in the 3x3 circuit, Rike officially declared for the 2020 PBA Draft where he was picked 11th overall by the NorthPort Batang Pier.

In his first year with the Batang Pier, the six-foot-eight big man averaged 3.8 points and 2.7 rebounds. However, at the start of the 2022-2023 PBA season, he took a leave of absence from NorthPort and has not returned.

NorthPort team manager Erick Arejola recently said that Rike still has one more year left in his contract if or when he decides to return to the court.

—JMB, GMA Integrated News