Isaiah Africano joins Guam National Team for FIBA WCA Qualifiers
Another Filipino standout is set to compete against Gilas Pilipinas, this time wearing the colors of Guam.
Filipino-American guard Isaiah Africano, who went undrafted in the recent PBA Season 50 Rookie Draft, has earned a spot on Guam’s men’s national basketball team for the upcoming FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.
Africano’s inclusion was confirmed through a social media announcement from his agent, Rey Punongbayan of Punongbayan Ponceja Sports Management, who praised his player’s perseverance and drive.
“My player Isaiah Africano who went undrafted in the last PBA Draft threw his anger by making it in the Guam National Basketball Team that will battle Gilas Pilipinas. Proved them all wrong Isaiah!” Punongbayan wrote.
The 6-foot-2 guard joins San Miguel Beermen veteran Jericho Cruz, forming a duo of Filipino blooded players on Guam’s roster.
Africano appears on the official lineup alongside Mark Johnson, Tomas Calvo, Jon Galloway, Daren Hechanova and Tai Wesley as the 81st ranked nation prepares to challenge Gilas Pilipinas later this month.
Africano’s journey has been anything but easy. The Hawaii-born Fil Am guard, whose mother hails from Sto. Domingo, Ilocos Norte and whose father is Colombian, was in Manila two months ago in pursuit of his PBA dream. After going undrafted and missing out on roster spots as a rookie free agent, he faced uncertainty about his path.
That changed when Guam head coach EJ Calvo saw value in the high-energy guard, particularly his defense, hustle and competitiveness. Calvo moved quickly to secure Africano for the national squad, giving the 28-year-old his first major international opportunity.
Africano said that being at this level was already a blessing, reflecting on his basketball journey that began in Pearl City, Hawaii, and continued through Division III basketball at Pacific University in Oregon, adding that he wants to look back knowing he did everything he could and to maximize the talent God has given him.
Africano describes himself as a defensive-minded, high-energy player, qualities that Guam hopes will strengthen its backcourt rotation alongside Cruz.
Guam will face Gilas Pilipinas on November 28 at the University of Guam Calvo Field House, creating an intriguing subplot as two players with Filipino roots suit up for the opposing side.
For Africano, it may be the closest he gets to facing PBA-level talent after narrowly missing his chance to join the league earlier this year.
Yet despite the turns in his career, Africano remains motivated by the support of his family.
“My parents always told me I could do anything as long as I put my heart into it,” he shared to Scoreline.ph during the PBA Draft Combine. “I have always gravitated toward team basketball. This is another opportunity to prove what I can do.”
With talent, energy and a renewed opportunity, Isaiah Africano enters the Asian Qualifiers ready to make his mark, representing Guam on the international stage against the very nation of his heritage.
