By Adrian Stewart Co
Negrense coach Teodorico “Boyet” Fernandez has been named as one of the coaching staff of the Gilas Pilipinas that will compete in the November window of the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup qualifier in Manama, Bahrain.
The Valladolid, Negros Occidental-native said he was grateful to be part of the national team nearly three decades since capturing a gold medal as a player in the 1991 Southeast Asian Games.
“I’m just grateful for the opportunity to serve the country again, this time in a coaching capacity,” Fernandez said in an interview with Spin.ph. “All I want is to be a positive contributor for this team.”
This is 49-year-old Fernandez’s, a Colegio de San Agustin-Bacolod product, first national men’s basketball team coaching stint. He is the current head coach of the San Beda University Red Lions in NCAA.
Apart from Fernandez, also in the coaching staff of interim Gilas coach Joseph Uichico are Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas program director Thomas Baldwin and Alton Lister.
Meanwhile, named as part of the 14-man roster that will go to Manama were Kobe Paras, Justine Baltazar, Juan and Javi Gomez de Liano, Isaac Go, Rey Suerte, Matt and Mike Nieto, Dwight Ramos, Will Navarro, Dave Ildefonso, Calvin Oftana, and Kemark Carino.
Gilas is bracing for a grueling schedule in Bahrain, where it will take on Thailand on November 26 and on November 30. The national team currently sports a 1-0 slate in Group A./ASC, WDJ