YOUNG GILAS POOL DOESN’T INCLUDE PBA PLAYERS IN THE UPCOMING FIBA WINDOW CUP
The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) decided not to invite PBA players for this FIBA window even if some of them have become available after their teams exited the PBA Bubble.
According to President Al Panlilio, the SBP has always wanted to start forming a core of younger players in preparation for 2023,” explained Panlilio. “We’ve been able to inject a couple of young players in different FIBA windows but this event gives us a unique opportunity to test out a lot of young players to see how well they fit into the program.”
The SBP officially revealed the 16-man pool for the upcoming FIBA Asia-Cup Qualifiers to be held in Manama, Bahrain this month. Joining the pool are mainstays Isaac Go, Allyn Bulanadi, Rey Suerte, Matt Nieto, and Mike Nieto are Kobe Paras, Juan Gomez de Liano, Javi Gomez de Liano, Justin Baltazar, Dave Ildefonso, Will Navarro, Kenmark Carino, Calvin Oftana, Jaydee Tungcab, Dwight Ramos, and naturalization prospect Angelo Kouame.
Panlilio explained more that, “the SBP has always wanted to start forming a core of younger players in preparation for 2023,” “We’ve been able to inject a couple of young players in different FIBA windows but this event gives us a unique opportunity to test out a lot of young players to see how well they fit into the program.”
Panlilio added that there’s no doubt that the PBA remains to be an important partner for the SBP and that the inclusion of PBA players in future teams is still crucial to the success of the Gilas Pilipinas Men’s Team.
The coaching staff for this window will be composed of Gilas Pilipinas Men’s Team program head Tab Baldwin with Jong Uichico, Boyet Fernandez, Alton Lister, Sandro Soriano, and Andrei Tolentino.”
The SBP is also happy to announce that we have received the go-ahead from Chief Implementer of the National Action Plan Against COVID-19 Secretary Carlito Galvez, Jr. and the Deputy Chief Implementer Undersecretary Vince Dizon to start training for our Gilas Pilipinas Men’s Team in preparation for the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers, which will happen from November 26 to 30 in Manama, Bahrain. The SBP already had a plan in place to form a team for the November window weeks ago but we had to make sure we did everything by the book because of the current situation,” said SBP President Al Panlilio.
“SBP Chairman Emeritus Manny V. Pangilinan, being part of the FIBA’s Central Board, has been adamant about our participation as FIBA restarts the Asia Cup Qualifiers to further strengthen our partnership with them and show that we’re completely behind them in this endeavor. MVP’s guidance has been pivotal throughout this process and we’re happy to finally get the green light.”
The SBP said it got the approval for the Gilas pool to train for the competition in a bubble-like campus in Calamba, Laguna which started last Friday.