By JONAS TERRADO
Gilas Pilipinas will try to figure out how to approach its preparation for the uncertain schedule of the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers home match against Thailand.
The Philippines was supposed to host the Thais last Thursday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City but FIBA decided to postpone the game as a preventive measure against the spread of the novel coronavirus disease.
FIBA has yet to announce when the Gilas-Thailand tussle will take place, which leaves coach Mark Dickel and the coaching staff to deliberate its plans after yesterday’s road game against Indonesia.
“That would depend a lot on what FIBA say is likely to be the re-issued date of the game. And maybe that is something they can’t answer,” Dickel said. “That maybe something is a health issue as much as a scheduling issue.”
Dickel said that there’s a likelihood of holding once-a-week practices during the lull before scheduling daily sessions if FIBA finally comes up with a suitable date.
“I think that’s not realistic if there’s no end in sight,” Dickel said when asked of the possibility of having the same schedule as Gilas did before facing Indonesia.
“I think what we did by having a couple weeks of preparation is great. Maybe it would be just a continual once-a-week (practice) and then when it is reconfirmed when the date is then we get ready to play that game again.
“And once again, I don’t know. I’m just thinking of what would make sense,” Dickel added.
Gilas program director Tab Baldwin admitted that the uncertainties will make it tough for them to plan ahead.
“Uncertainties are always a concern when you’re planning,” said Baldwin, who echoed Dickel’s sentiments of a possible once-a-week training.
“I like planning. I like being prepared. So yes, it’s a concern, but we can’t control the coronavirus, we can’t control the spread of it, we can’t control countries or FIBA’s reaction to it. So we just have to be on alert and do the best that we can.”
