By Jonas Terrado
Alaska’s Vic Manuel and Abu Tratter and Rain or Shine’s Javee Mocon were invited to the Gilas Pilipinas pool for the first window of the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers which starts Feb. 20.
Vic Manuel barrels his way against three Thailand defenders during the gold medal match of the 30th Southeast Asian Games men’s basketball at the Mall of Asia Arena last Dec. 10. (MB Photo / Rio Leonelle Deluvio / Canon 1DX Mark II with 70-200mm f2.8 lens)
Team manager Gabby Cui confirmed the latest additions following the early pullout of Barangay Ginebra San Miguel’s Japeth Aguilar, NorthPort’s Christian Standhardinger and Blackwater’s Mac Belo.
The three joined Phoenix Pulse big man Justin Chua, who was added to the Gilas pool last Sunday.
Mocon attended Tuesday’s practice at the Meralco Gym in Ortigas as Gilas continued its buildup for the Feb. 20 home game against Thailand at the Smart Araneta Coliseum and the Feb. 23 road match opposite Indonesia in Jakarta.
Manuel and Tratter, on the other hand, took part in Alaska’s team building session.
Manuel could make a return stint with the national team after being part of Gilas’ gold medal victory in the 30th Southeast Asian Games at home last December.
The muscular forward averaged 16.0 points and 4.8 rebounds during the biennial meet, including a 12-point game against Indonesia in the semifinals and 14 against Thailand in the final.
Abu Tratter, wearing No. 24, played in Gilas Pilipinas’ FIBA World Cup Qualifiers match against Australia in Feb. 2018. (Photo from FIBA)
Tratter played sparring minutes in Gilas’ loss to Australia in Melbourne during the third window of the 2019 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers.
He averaged 10.4 points and 6.1 rebounds in 12 games for Alaska in last season’s PBA Governors’ Cup. Tratter joined the Aces after being traded from the Blackwater Elite in exchange for Carl Bryan Cruz.
Mocon, entering his sophomore season with Rain or Shine, has never played for the national team on any level.
The ex-San Beda star averaged 10.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 45 games last season, and is likely to make the All-Rookie Team.
Javee Mocon joins the Gilas pool after a solid rookie campaign with Rain or Shine. (PBA Images)
Source: Manila Bulletin
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