After previously playing for Batang Gilas, Dalph Panopio plans to use his PBA stint with the Blackwater Bossing to rejoin the national team program.
Dalph Panopio would never say “No” to any opportunity to put on the Gilas Pilipinas jersey again.
The third overall pick by Blackwater in the recently-concluded PBA Season 50 Draft is hopeful his upcoming stint with the Bossing will help increase his chances of making the national team anew.
“Sana advantage na nandito po ako sa Pilipinas na makasali ako sa Gilas,” said Panopio during his appearance at Power & Play with former PBA Commissioner Noli Eala.
[RELATED STORY: PBA: No. 3 pick Dalph Panopio signs three-year deal with Blackwater Bossing]
The highly-touted guard is no stranger to national team duties.
After all, he already played for the Batang Gilas in the FIBA U18 Asian Championship in Thailand in 2018 and the U19 World Cup.
With the Batang Gilas, he teamed up with the likes of current Gilas stalwarts in Kai Sotto and Carl Tamayo.
But the 25-year-old cager, who also suited up for US NCAA Division 1 school Cal State Bakersfield, knows that opportunity won’t just fall on his lap.
That’s why he is only focused on getting better as he joined the Bossing in the PBA’s golden season beginning on Oct. 5.
Panopio is hopeful that in the process, he could get the attention of the Gilas coaching staff, whose team will compete in the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers and the SEA Games later this year.
“Syempre tuloy-tuloy po hard work tsaka sakripisyo. Whatever happens, kung tawagan po ako o ano magpapa-ready lang po ako,” he said.
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Like most sportswriters, Jan Ballesteros once dreamed of becoming a professional hooper. But he learned the hard way that it’s not for everyone.
He continues to be involved in the sport he loves, but this time as a member of the PBA Press Corps. Aside from primarily covering the PBA, he is also assigned to cover Gilas Pilipinas.