Munzon, Pasaol banner all-PBA Olympic 3×3 qualifying team

After months of inactivity, the Gilas Pilipinas 3×3 program is once again ready to roll for the upcoming FIBA 3×3 Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) in May in Graz, Austria with the star-studded quartet of Joshua Munzon, Alvin Pasaol, CJ Perez, and Mo Tautuaa.

These will now be the country’s final representatives for the long-postponed OQT after PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial confirmed the development, and gave his full support for the group.

“All out ang suporta ng liga sa mga sasali sa OQT,” he said. “Sigurado na ‘yun, mag-aallot tayo ng oras para makapag-ensayo ‘yung mga players natin sa 3×3. Ia-adjust natin ‘yung schedule ng mga teams nila para hindi matamaan ‘yung games sa OQT.”

(The league gives its all-out support for the OQT participants. For sure, we will allot time for our 3×3 players to practice. We will adjust their teams’ schedule so the OQT games won’t be affected.)

Gilas 3×3 is grouped with the Dominican Republic, France, Qatar, and Slovenia in Pool C of the OQT. They will be coached by PBA legend and longtime 3×3 coach Ronnie Magsanoc.

A podium finish for the quartet will guarantee its place in the inaugural Olympic hosting of basketball’s more fast-paced half-court variant.

After gaining international fame for their pioneering efforts with Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3, Munzon and Pasaol – the top two ranked players in the Philippines – are now set to find a new home in the historically deep PBA Rookie Draft on March 14.

They last suited up for the country in the 2020 Doha Masters, where Manila Chooks 3×3 bowed out winless in the group phase, but not before giving a good scare each to world No. 1 ranked Liman (15-22) and home team Lusail (14-19).

Meanwhile, Perez and Tautuaa, now teammates for the controversially stacked San Miguel Beermen, have their own claim to fame in the 3×3 circuit after steering the country to a gold medal in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games alongside Chris Newsome and Jason Perkins.

Together, all 4 have long been penciled in as the strongest candidates to make the final 3×3 OQT roster even before the pandemic halted all practices and tournaments. – Rappler.com