The Philippine Basketall Association will sit down with the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) now that the 2023 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers is fast approaching.
Commissioner Willie Marcial will discuss such matters with the federation, led by its president Al Panlilio, as the league’s cooperation will be needed for the event scheduled on February 24-28 at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
“Paguusapan pa namin ng SBP ‘yan kung papaano,” he told Tiebreaker Times Sunday.
“Tingnan natin kung anong gagawin natin.“
Among the discussions will be regarding the schedule, whether or not the PBA will adjust its calendar to give way for the window as it could collide with the league’s 2021-22 Governors’ Cup elimination round matches.
The season-ending conference looks to resume on February 11 after pausing earlier this January in response to the government’s decision to revert Metro Manila to Alert Level 3 due to the rise in COVID-19 cases.
Well, tweaking schedules isn’t something new to the league, having done so numerous times in the past most especially when the Filipino dribblers are seeing action in major tournaments such as the World Cup.
Expected to be tackled, as well, is the status of the Gilas draftees from 2019, as their contracts with the Gilas program will expire on January 31.
It remains unknown if Terrafirma’s Isaac Go, Blackwater’s Rey Suerte, Nieto twins Matt (NLEX) and Mike (Rain or Shine), and Alaska’s Allyn Bulanadi will stay with the program or join their respective mother teams instead. Their contracts expire after Monday.
The league, though, has said previously that it is just waiting for word from the SBP regarding the aforementioned cagers. They will all be eligible to play for their respective ball clubs once cleared by the federation.
Such uncertainty is perhaps one of the reasons why the Samahan has yet to release a pool for the upcoming window, where it will battle long-time rivals South Korea, New Zealand, and India in a competitive Group A.
Thus, the importance of the SBP’s meeting with the league, which has insisted many times before that it remains committed to helping the program the best it can.
“Tingnan natin kung anong gagawin natin, kung papano tayo makakatulong,” the fourth-year league chieftain said.
