Dickel itinalaga bilang Gilas interim head coach

TNT KaTropa consultant Mark Dickel

SI two-time Olympian at TNT KaTropa consultant Mark Dickel ang magsisilbing interim head coach ng Gilas Pilipinas men’s basketball team para sa gaganaping unang window ng 2021 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers.

Sisimulan ng Pilipinas ang kampanya nito sa isang home game kontra 2019 Southeast Asian Games silver medalist Thailand sa Pebrero 20 bago sundan ng road game laban sa Indonesia sa Britama Arena sa Jakarta sa Pebrero 23.

“In his short stint in the Philippines, coach Mark has performed creditably well,” sabi ni Manny V. Pangilinan, ang Chairman Emeritus ng Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP), sa isang pahayag nitong Miyerkules.

Naunang sumalang sa 2018 PBA Governors’ Cup, tinulungan ni Dickel ang TNT na wakasan ang limang kumperensiyang tagtuyot sa finals noong 2019 PBA Commissioner’s Cup.

Kabilang naman sa 24-man pool ng Gilas Pilipinas men’s squad para sa unang window ng 2021 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers ang tatlong miyembro ng KaTropa na sina RR Pogoy, Troy Rosario at Ray Parks.

“We want to hit the ground running for the upcoming 2021 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers,” sabi pa ni Pangilinan. “We all know what he did to help TNT in such a short span and we’re confident he can also move things quickly as we prepare for the first window this February.”

Maliban kina Pogoy, Rosario at Parks, kabilang din sa pool sina Kiefer Ravena at Poy Erram ng NLEX Road Warriors, Christian Standhardinger ng NorthPort Batang Pier, Japeth Aguilar ng Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings, CJ Perez ng Columbian Dyip, Mac Belo ng Blackwater Elite at Matthew Wright ng Phoenix Fuel Masters.

Kasama rin sa pool sina Isaac Go, Matt at Mike Nieto, Rey Suerte, Allyn Bulanadi, Justine Baltazar, Dave Ildefonso, Thirdy Ravena, Kobe Paras, Juan at Javi Gomez de Liano, Jaydee Tungcab at Dwight Ramos.

Balak naman ng SBP na tuluyang magtalaga ng full-time head coach sa ikalawang window ng 2021 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers sa darating na Nobyembre.