With the world slowly adapting to the living conditions brought upon by the COVID-19 pandemic, a full calendar awaits Gilas Pilipinas.
Aside from the FIBA World Cup qualifiers which will be held in various windows, also scheduled next year are the Asian Games and the Southeast Asian Games – which were postponed last July due to the pandemic. There’s also the Asia Cup set for July next year.
But who will compose the roster? That’s the challenge facing the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, headed by president Al Panlilio, and Gilas Pilipinas program director Tab Baldwin.
“We still have to discuss this but it’s gonna be a struggle for us to keep the team together.
“We will work closely with Tab and we’re working for a full-year program or beyond this on how we can calendar all of this. Napakaraming kailangan gawin in keeping the team together. Yan ang pinakaproblema natin,” said Panlilio on Radyo 5’s Power and Play.
The composition of the national team pool players can actually be divided into three groups — the collegiate players; the players abroad; and the Gilas draftees.
The UAAP, which houses Gilas’ Dwight Ramos, SJ Belangel, Dave Ildefonso, Geo Chiu, and Angelo Kouame (Ateneo), RJ Abarrientos (FEU), and Carl Tamayo (UP), is targeting to start Season 84 early next year.
Meanwhile, seven cagers are playing overseas led by the 7-foot-3 behemoth Kai Sotto in NBL-Australia, repping Adelaide 36ers.
The B.League is the home for Thirdy Ravena (San-En NeoPhoenix), Kiefer Ravena (Shiga Lakestars), Juan Gomez de Liano (Earthfriends Tokyo Z), Bobby Ray Parks Jr. (Nagoya Diamond Dolphins), Javi Gomez de Liano (Ibaraki Robots), and Kemark Carino (Aomori Wat’s).
Gilas draftees, which are locked with the national team, are Isaac Go (Terrafirma), Rey Suerte (Blackwater), Matt Nieto (NLEX), Allyn Bulanadi (Alaska), Mike Nieto (Rain or Shine), Jordan Heading (Terrafirma), William Navarro (Northport), Tzaddy Rangel (NLEX), and Jaydee Tungcab (TNT).
“It’s gonna be a struggle for us to keep the team together and that’s the challenge. We will work closely with Tab. Napakaraming dapat gawin to keep the team together,” said Panlilio.
The Gilas calendar commences late this year on November 25 for the World Cup Qualifiers’ first window.
The second and third windows are slated in February and June 2022. Meanwhile, Asian Games to be held in China is scheduled for September.
The 31st SEA Games in Vietnam has yet to release a new schedule for 2022.
That is why the federation is looking to gather all of its stakeholders as it tries to form the best pool possible come the 2023 Worlds — including the PBA players.
“I think that’s been discussed and we’re very open with that,” he said. “That’s when even when I talked to Willie Marcial, we continue to explore what we could do. Si Ryan Gregorio also helps me out in terms of talking to the collegiate ranks. I’d like to sit down with them if that’s necessary.
“What we’re trying to do is to develop as many players as we can. In two years’ time, maraming mangyayari, maraming player movements, player discussions,” he continued. “Maraming mangyayari sa careers ng mga player and in a way parang ano nga kami, beggars cannot be choosers, di ba? But it’s a commitment coming from the players. If they really want to play for the national team, then we will work with them.
“It starts with their commitment to play for the flag at the end of the day. Kung talagang malakas ang intentions nila maglaro, hahanapan nila ng solusyon. Kung medyo di sila committed, maraming excuses.”
