REY SUERTE hopes to rejoin the Gilas Pilipinas pool better and healthier.
The special PBA draftee is looking forward of linking anew with his fellow national teammates once their campaign in the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers is over and preparations for the Olympic Qualifying Tournament kicks off.
The 25-year-old Suerte went down with a sprained ankle just a week before the qualifiers and failed to go with the team in the Clark bubble.
The no. 2 special draft pick of Blackwater in 2019 said his condition is now better, making him possibly available for the team's next major tournament.
"Medyo ok na di na masyadong namamaga," he said.
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Suerte was team captain of Gilas prior to suffering the injury. He is the fourth national team member who got injured after Allyn Bulanadi, Dave Ildefonso, and Matt Nieto.
Coach Tab Baldwin said Gilas missed the leadership and scoring punch of Suerte, who he describes as an excellent three-point shooter who has a scorer's mentality.
Gilas is eyeing to sweep its qualifying assignment in the FIBA Asia Cup as it battles Korea in a rematch on Sunday at the end of the tournament. The Filipinos earlier beat the Sokors, 81-78, on a game-winning three-pointer by guard SJ Belangel.
The OQT is set on June 29 to July 4 with the Philippines bracketed with host team Serbia and Dominican Republic. (RG)
