“Talagang nagdasal ako, gustong gusto ko kasi lumaro sa Gilas.”

These were Jeffrei Allan Chan’s words when he first heard that he will be picked over James Yap as part of the Gilas Pilipinas team at the 2013 FIBA Asia Championships.

Now, it would be hard to imagine a Gilas team without Chan, who ranked fourth among Asia’s best in three-pointers made at last year’s Asian cup.

Chan hit 20 of 42 three-pointers in that historic 9-game run at a lights out 48 percent clip.

A year later, the left-handed “Negros Sniper” proved that he has not lost his touch, leading Gilas with 20 points to a 74-65 victory over FIBA Africa silver medalist Egypt.

Gilas Pilipinas is set for one more tune-up game before the 2014 FIBA World Cup begins on August 30.

Watch out for the step-back, Jeff Chan special.