The quest for glory on the international stage resumes.
Gilas Pilipinas will open its training camp next week in preparation for the Southeast Basketball Association (SEABA) Championship that the country will host on May 12 to 18.
National coach Chot Reyes posted this on Twitter as he expects the players named to the Gilas pool – all from the PBA – to be in attendance when camp starts.
“Gilas campaign officially kicks-off with 3-day training camp fr March 14-16 w all members of the national pool invited. #LabanPilipinas.” Reyes posted on his account @coachot.
The said tournament will be played at the Smart Araneta Coliseum with the Philippines hosting the other teams from the region for this qualifier to the 2017 FIBA Asia Cup on Aug. 10 to 20.
Unlike in the past when the top two teams in the SEABA earn spots to the Asian championship, only the winner this year will get an opportunity to play in the FIBA Asia tourney.
This explains why Reyes, on his third stint as mentor of the national team, wants a well-prepared team as rivals from Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar and Singapore.
As per agreement between the PBA and the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP), Reyes can have players from the Cadet group – the likes of Mac Belo of Blackwater and Mike Tolomia of Rain or Shine, Gio Jalalon from Star and Kevin Ferrer from Barangay Ginebra San Miguel – two months before the SEABA.
That means the Cadet players, according to PBA media bureau chief Willie Marcial, could be pulled out from their respective teams and skip the Commissioner’s Cup to train with Gilas.
As for the regular PBA players named to the pool, led by the three-time MVP June Mar Fajardo of San Miguel Beer and Jayson Castro of TNT KaTropa, the PBA board has yet to decide when to release them for training.
“For the Cadet players, it’s two months before (the SEABA), but for the regular PBA players selected to the national team pool, it’s up for discussion,” said Marcial when contacted by TEMPO.
