The 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup will usher in a new era in world basketball.
The world-governing body for the sport has scrapped the old tournament format in favor of a home and away-style of tournament that will span for 2017 to 2019. This move sparked criticism from professional club leagues since this would greatly affect their calendar.
“Starting 2017 you’ll see a radically changed format,” Gilas head coach Tab Baldwin said about the FIBA calendar shift a year ago. “This is really a big story in basketball. It will be a huge story in the Philippines.”
The first round of the qualifiers will see Asia divided into four groups. Each country will have a chance to face their three other opponents twice, one home and one away, with the top three teams from each group advancing to the next stage.
The next round will see the 12 remaining teams split into two groups. Teams will carry over the points from round one, and face another three teams again in a home-and-away round-robin. The seven best teams in each group will qualify for the 2019 FIBA World Cup set to be held in Shanghai, China.
“I wish there was an answer for that because imagine all the NBA players in November and in February. You think they’re gonna stop the NBA for Team USA?,” he continued. “Imagine all the Euroleague players. So this is a huge issue not just for Philippine basketball but it’s a huge issue for the world of basketball as well.”
To combat this possible issue, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, headed by Manny V. Pangilinan, has deemed that the return to the old Gilas system is needed. In addition, having a separate Gilas team, composed of players not affiliated with a professional club, will give the Philippine-side better preparation for the rigorous home-and-away schedule of the tournament.
“It would be a welcome development for us if the program has continuity,” Baldwin said in a separate interview. “The cadets will, hopefully, ensure that there will be continuity for Gilas and familiarity within the team.”
In an interview with Interaksyon, Pangilinan confirmed that there are at least 14 players who have committed to the program and will forego their professional careers for the time being for flag and country. “We have at least 14 names for the Gilas cadets. We’ve spoken to all of them. All of them have consented. So we’re finalizing the documentation for them,” he told the publication.
A source closely monitoring the situation has shown Tiebreaker Times a list of the pool members; some have already been training with the current Gilas team this year. The source also added the there will be a “succession plan” for the team as the years go by.
Heading this Gilas batch are former UAAP and PBA D-League Most Valuable Player Bobby Ray Parks, UAAP Season 77 and 78 MVP Kiefer Ravena, and UAAP Season 78 Finals and 2016 PBA D-League Aspirants Cup MVP Mac Belo. Belo’s teammates from Far Eastern University Mike Tolomia, Roger Pogoy, Russel Escoto, and incoming senior Raymar Jose are also on the list together with Ravena’s fellow college backcourt-mate Von Pessumal, and former King Tiger Kevin Ferrer.
Arellano’s Jio Jalalon and former King Bulldog Gelo Alolino will further strengthen the already stacked backcourt. A spot is also being reserved for the team’s naturalized player, currently Andray Blatche.
The other spots are still being finalized but the names that are being thrown around, according to the source, are Ateneo’s CJ Perez, former Growling Tiger Ed Daquioag, and, surprisingly, former La Salle big man Arnold Van Opstal, who last played for the Cebuana Lhuiller Gems a year ago in the PBA D-League.
Ravena, Jalalon, Pessumal, and the FEU troika of Belo, Tolomia, and Pogoy have already confirmed in separate conversations their intent to stay with the program.
The source added that the official list will come out next week.
