Last April, Gilas Pilipinas head coach Yeng Guiao had a wish.
“Every time we think about Australia, ‘yun ang naiisip natin. Baka kailangan patungan ‘yung memory na ‘yun with a positive one instead of the negative one,” said Guiao as he hoped to have a tune-up with the Australia Boomers.
Though it will not be against the Boomers, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas has secured a tune-up series with Australian club team Adelaide 36ers of the NBL.
“We play 36ers August 23 and 25 in Manila — Meralco Gym,” Gilas Pilipinas team manager Gabby Cui said in a text message to Tiebreaker Times.
The tuneups against the ball club will take place after their Spain trip.
This is truly a welcome development for Gilas, who are gearing up for a tough journey ahead in the World Cup as they will figure in battles with Angola, Serbia, and Italy in the opening round.
On the other hand, the 36ers are using this friendly as part of their preparations for their mother league.
In the last NBL season that concluded in March, the four-time league champions amassed an even 14-14 win-loss record, barely missing the semifinals as they finished at fifth place.
Aside from playing Gilas, the 36ers will also face the Utah Jazz in October as part of the NBA’s preseason games.
