PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — AJ Edu is set to join Gilas Pilipinas once it starts its buildup for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023.
Gilas team manager Butch Antonio made the confirmation to Daily Tribune, saying that the Filipino-Cypriot forward will be arriving later this month to join them in their preparation for the biggest and most prestigious basketball event that the country will host from 25 August to 10 September.
Gilas Pilipinas’ training camp opens on 1 June.
“He’s coming to the Philippines late May for the World Cup,” Antonio told Daily Tribune in an interview.
“He just finished off some school commitments because as I understand, he’s also taking his Master’s Degree.”
A student of Toledo, where he also sees action in the Mid-American Conference of the US National Collegiate Athletic Association, the 6-foot-10 Edu is tipped to provide length, athleticism and youthful energy to the national squad that is looking to make an impact on the world stage.
He first represented the national team during the 2017 FIBA Under-18 3×3 tournament and the FIBA Under-19 World Cup in 2019 but suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury and a torn meniscus.
The 23-year-old big man, however, stayed connected with the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas as he wanted to be part of the national team program, this time in the men’s team.
Aside from Edu, Gilas Pilipinas is also expected to tap Jordan Clarkson of the Utah Jazz in the National Basketball Association as well as 6-foot-10 June Mar Fajardo, 6-foot-9 Japeth Aguilar and 7-foot-2 Kai Sotto.
Clarkson, who will play as a naturalized player, will arrive six weeks before the start of the tournament.
