With Gilas Pilipinas Women being part of the 2019 FIBA Asia Women’s Pre-Olympic Qualifying Tournament next month, five-time defending UAAP champion National University will be affected by it.
Besides head coach Patrick Aquino, Lady Bulldogs big man Jack Animam and utility forward Kelli Hayes are also part of the squad that will compete in Auckland, New Zealand from November 14-17.
The tentative schedule of the UAAP Season 82 Women’s Basketball Finals will fall on those dates.
That is why Aquino has asked the league to move the date of the championship round to after the continental meet that will see four squads move on to the OQT proper.
“Well, we have requested to our UAAP board member sir Nilo Ocampo to ask for permission to move the Finals if ever matamaan kami,” disclosed Aquino.
“With Kelli, Jack, and me going to the pre-Qualifying Tournament to the Olympics, we will not make it if ever we make it to the Finals since we will still be in New Zealand.”
Besides Animam and Hayes, the brass of Gilas Women has also asked FEU’s Clare Castro to release her for national team duties. Unfortunately, FEU has denied their request.
The Philippines is slotted with South Korea, New Zealand, and China in Pool A of the tournament. The top two squads by the end of the group phase will advance to the OQT proper next year.
NU, who currently sits atop the league with a 12-0 slate, can gain an outright Finals berth if it sweeps the elimination round anew.
Though in the midst of history, the team’s officials are prioritizing the pre-OQT over the UAAP.
“Well, as far as everybody is concerned right now, we are going to the pre-OQT and it will be for the country. I think Boss Dioceldo [Sy] and sir Herbert [Sy] allowed us to join the national team since it’s for the country,” Aquino said.
“We are just getting ready for whatever happens. As much as we don’t want to change the dates, we are asking to since it’s the Olympics we are talking about.”
Moreover, Animam and Hayes, who are in their final years in college, have already told Aquino that if the UAAP does not move its schedule, they will make the ultimate sacrifice and forego their final games in college for Gilas.
“Sabi nga nung dalawa, national interest will be first, not National University. I know there will be a lot at stake with this coming up. We will just be ready with what happens in the next few days.”
