VETERAN Yeng Guiao will still call the shots for Gilas Pilipinas that will try to protect the country’s amazing winning streak in the 30th SEA Games which will be held in various part of Luzon later this year.
Since the shocking loss to host Malaysia in1989 edition, the Filipinos have never dropped a game, winning the gold medal of the biennial event by wide margins.
No less than Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) chief Al Panlilio confirmed Guiao’s new task, saying the many-time PBA champion coach wants to sustain his program.
“He signified intention to handle the team in the SEA Games because he wants to have continuity with the Gilas Pilipinas program even after the FIBA World Cup in China,” said Panlilio
The national team is currently in Spain for a series of tune up matches as part of preparation for the World Cup.
Panlilio said that there is not official roster yet for the SEA Games although he hinted that some top collegiate players would be tapped to provide youth exuberance to the team.
“We have a training pool already in place, and because the Southeast Games rulebook is different, there’s a chance for our other Fil-foreign players to play in the SEA Games – players who are considered as naturalized under the rules of FIBA,” said Panlilio, pointing to Fil-German forward Christian Standhardinger and Fil-American Stanley Pringle.
“As for the amateur or collegiate players, coach Yeng has done that in the past. During the FIBA qualifiers as he included Thirdy Ravena of Ateneo. In the SEA Games, we might have a few amateur players – maybe Kai Sotto.”
“But it’s entirely up to coach Yeng on how he wants to form the team for the Southeast Asian Games,” he added.
On the possibility of having naturalized player Andray Blatche in the SEA Games, Panlilio said he has not discussed this to the onetime NBA player who started his stint with the national team in 2014 World Cup.
“Our focus is the World Cup, after that, we have not talked on what’s next,” Panlilio said.
Aside from playing for the national team in the World Cup six years back, Blatche has suited up for the Gilas in the Southeast Asian Basketball Association (SEABA) in 2017 and the 2018 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament both held here, and the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship in China. (WAYLON GALVEZ)
