PBA okays team's stint in RP Cup

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Basketball Association is accommodating the RP Developmental Pool to play exhibition games against the pro league’s 10 member teams during the course of the PBA Philippine Cup.

In the future, the PBA is open to possible participation by the RP Smart Gilas team as guest squad with a chance to contend for a conference crown as the league board of governors, during a planning session in Cebu, agreed to extend assistance to the developmental pool hoping to earn a ticket to the 2012 London Olympics.

The Smart Gilas team, under Serbian coach Rajko Toroman, is currently training in Serbia. Its next stop is the United States before returning home for the players to rejoin their school teams.

“Since RP Smart Gilas is a developmental team, the board decided we can maximize the PBA’s assistance by playing the team as much as we can,” PBA board chairman Joaqui Trillo said.

“This way, they will not be limited by our format, and in fact, they can continue to play our teams even during the playoffs depending on their needs. They will also have more flexibility regarding their training abroad,” Trillo added.

The Smart Gilas team has already got to play PBA teams during the recent Philippine Cup finals. The Nationals went up against Burger King and Rain or Shine in two exhibition games held as curtain-raisers to the Alaska-Talk n Text finale.

“Maybe we can follow the NCC model where the team played exhibition games with the PBA ballclubs at first, before eventually allowed to play as a guest team in a regular PBA conference after seeing action in a number of international competitions,” said PBA commissioner Sonny Barrios.

The Northern Consolidated (NCC) squad by coach Ron Jacobs played exhibition games against PBA teams in the early ’80s. After reaping success in Asian competitions, the team was accepted as a guest team in the PBA, eventually winning the 1985 Reinforced Conference crown.

Talk n Text board representative Ricky Vargas, who is also the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) vice chairman, expressed gratitude to his fellow PBA governors for the support.

The Smart Gilas team seeks a berth in the 2012 Olympics in the 2011 FIBA-Asia championship.