by Jonas Terrado
The PBA Board of Governors is set to meet on Thursday to discuss the proposed program set by Gilas Pilipinas coach Yeng Guiao for the FIBA World Cup slated Aug. 31 to Sept. 15 in China.
PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial said the board will assess whether they’ll give a thumbs up sign on some of the proposals lined up by Guiao, particularly the preparation schedule in the months leading up to the FIBA competition.
Guiao, who joined Marcial in the weekly PSA Forum at the Amelie Hotel in Manila, bared his intention to start twice-a-day sessions in June and July followed by daily practices in August.
However, his wish to give Gilas perhaps a month of regular practices before the team’s first game in Foshan on Aug. 31 remains a piece of contention due to the PBA calendar.
Marcial had earlier said the Commissioner’s Cup is set to end around mid-August at the earliest.
“Suporta naman kami, problema lang namin yung break na mahaba na pinaguusapan namin dahil sa finals,” Marcial said during the session.
Apart from the practice schedule, Guiao is also seeking to play five to six scrimmages against teams that have secured qualification to the World Cup.
Guiao had brought up the idea of facing either New Zealand or Australia while adding that the team had been sent invites to play tune-up games in Europe.
But that will again depend on whether those invitations will fit to the PBA schedule.
“Nasa kanila yung decision, kung baga dun lang kami sa side na magrequest. We will just rely on the wisdom of the board,” Guiao said.
