By WAYLON GALVEZ
Gilas Pilipinas coach Jong Uichico said Saturday a squad of combined professional and amateur players would be sufficient for Window 3 of the FIBA Asia Cup qualifying tournament next year.
Uichico, who led the national team to a 2-0 record in Window 2 of the qualifiers with back-to-back wins against Thailand last month, said this would be beneficial to the Gilas Pilipinas program, particularly in developing the young players by giving them proper international exposure.
“A mixture will be sufficient,” said Uichico on The Chasedown on One PH over Cignal TV. “Kaya nga may program tayo para ma-fasttrack ‘yung experience ng mga bata. All-PBA maganda naman ‘yun, pero sayang ‘yung Gilas program to give the international experience sa mag bata.”
“Madaling kumuha ng mga PBA players, pero saan naman mapupunta ‘yung developmental program ng mga bata (if they are not included),” added Uichico, a former PBA mentor who won a total of nine championships with three different teams.
Uichico is seeking experience for young players as they try to get to the national team for the 2023 FIBA World Cup the country will co-host with Japan and Indonesia.
“They have a bright future. That is why every window that they can be part of, malaking bagay sa kanila in terms of being ready for the 2023 FIBA World Cup,” said Uichico.
In the two wins against Thailand inside a bubble in Bahrain, Uichico – appointed head coach by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) for Window 2 – fielded an all-amateur team.
Led by UP stalwarts Juan and Javi Gomez de Liano and Ateneo’s Dwight Ramos, Isaac Go, and Matt Nieto, the Philippines dominated Thailand in the two games with 93-61 victory in the first game and 93-69 in the second game.
The two wins moved the Filipinos on top of Group A with a 4-0 record, ahead of archrival South Korea, which did not join the event due to COVID-19 concerns, at 2-0 while Indonesia sports a 1-2 card and Thailand 0-4.
The qualifying tournament’s Window 3 is set Feb. 18 to 21 and SBP president Al Panlilio has said that they informed FIBA of the country’s willingness to host a bubble tournament.
It is likely that the national team would play Korea twice, including the game they were supposed to play in Window 2. The other game for the Nationals is against the Indonesians.
