By JONAS TERRADO
The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) plans to complete as early as next week a list of PBA players who can be tapped to represent Gilas Pilipinas in the February window of the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers in Clark, Pampanga.
SBP President Al Panlilio and Program Director Tab Baldwin are set to finalize the list of pro cagers that will be submitted to PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial in order to get the ball rolling for Gilas in its preparation for the continental qualifiers.
Gilas is slated to hold a training bubble next month before facing South Korea twice and Indonesia once in the third window of the Asia Cup Qualifiers which will be held under a bubble setup in Clark.
“The ball is on my court,” Panlilio said during Saturday’s joint virtual press conference of officials from the SBP, PBA and the Bases Conversion and Development Authority.
“I’m working with Coach Tab and hopefully by next week I can give Comm Willie some names of the request for PBA players to be part of the training bubble and the February window so that’s on me,” added Panlilio.
PBA players are expected to return for the qualifiers after Gilas fielded an all-amateur squad in the second window held in Manama, Bahrain.
A mixture of pros and amateurs comprised the Gilas roster against Indonesia in the first window last February in Jakarta.
Marcial said that the league is open to lending its players as long as the SBP provides the list as soon as possible.
“Nag-usap kami ni President Al nung isang araw regarding sa lineup, sabi ko sabihin agad para masabihan yung mga players kasi nagbabakasyon. Basta okay sa players, wala tayong problema,” said Marcial, whose league moved the start of the 46th season in April due to the qualifiers.
