By Waylon Galvez
The PBA Board is entertaining ideas of playing either in a pocket tournament or exhibition matches instead of competing in the William Jones Cup in Taipei this June to prepare Gilas Pilipinas for this year’s FIBA World Cup in China.
The pro league has yet to formalize on the preparation of the national team but Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) chief Al Panlilio said joining the Jones Cup would be very difficult in terms of adjusting the PBA schedule.
“Based on the calendar of the PBA, baka mahirap yung Jones Cup,” said Panlilio, a member of the board representing the Meralco Bolts, after the five-hour meeting at the PBA Commissioner’s Office in Libis, Quezon City.
“Probably a mini tournament or friendly matches, which might be a better option,” added Panlilio during a press briefing with PBA chairman Ricky Vargas of TNT and league commissioner Willie Marcial.
This year’s Jones Cup is set July 12 to 21, which during that time the PBA is on its second conference, the Commissioner’s Cup.
The league’s ongoing Philippine Cup will end either May 15 or 17, while the Commissioner’s Cup will start May 19 and will end Aug. 23, or a week before the Aug. 31 to Sept. 15 World Cup in China.
Aside from the World Cup, the board also discussed the country’s hosting of the Southeast Asian Games scheduled Nov. 29 to Dec. 15, and the PBA has already committed to support the event.
To give way to the biennial meet, the league will have another break during the Governors’ Cup, which starts Sept. 20 and then have its break during the SEAG and resume right away after the event for the semifinals.
The finals of the third and the third and last conference of the PBA is Jan. 3 to 17.
“This is a supreme sacrifice really for the PBA, it’s a very unusual year because we have the FIBA World Cup and the SEA Games,” said Vargas, also the president of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC).
