By Jan Carlo Anolin
Ronnie Magsanoc has been named head coach of Gilas Pilipinas men’s team for the FIBA 3×3 Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT), the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) announced Thursday.
Ronnie Magsanoc (MB File Photo)
Magsanoc steered Philippines to capture the gold medal in the 30th Southeast Asian Games last month with PBA cagers Chris Newsome of the Meralco Bolts, Jason Perkins of the Phoenix Fuel Masters, Mo Tautuaa of the San Miguel Beermen and Columbian Dyip’s CJ Perez.
Prior to the SEA Games, Magsanoc also had coaching stints in three different FIBA events: 2018 FIBA 3×3 World Cup in Philippines; 2018 FIBA 3×3 Challenger in Shanghai, China; and 2018 FIBA 3×3 U23 World Cup in Xi An, China.
Twenty countries, with four Pools of five teams each, are expected to join in the 3×3 OQT which kicks off on March 18 to 22 in New Delhi, India.
Bracketed with the Philippines in Pool C are Slovenia, France, Qatar and Dominican Republic.
Each Pool has a single round robin with the top two squads advancing to the quarterfinals.
Knockout games will be played in the quarters and semis with the top three teams joining host Japan, China, Russia and Serbia.
Magsanoc was appointed on the same day Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3 league named its 10-player pool for the said OQT.
Selected were Joshua Munzon and Alvin Pasaol, the country’s top two players, former PBA players Dylan Ababou and Karl Dehesa, Santi Santillan, Chris de Chavez, Gab Banal, Jaypee Belencion, Leo de Vera and Ryan Monteclaro.
However, the official roster has yet to be announced. It will be interesting to see how the dynamics will be, given that Magsanoc and the players are on opposing sides of the 3×3 circle.
It was the Chooks league that accounted for majority of the points the Philippines gained in order to secure the OQT slot.
According to FIBA rules, four of six players must come from the Top 10 ranked list of their respective countries. (With reports from Jonas Terrado)
Source: Manila Bulletin
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