Gilas to play as guest five in tourney?

MANILA, Philippines - Gilas Pilipinas could be tapped as the 11th team in the season ending Commissioner’s Cup to give the Nationals more time to prepare for the FIBA World Cup slated Aug. 30-Sept. 14 in Spain.

“Consultations are on-going. There’s a lot of dialogue and channeling, but there’s an official process,” PBA board chairman Mon Segismundo told The STAR.

“That’s a collective decision for the PBA and SBP to make. We need to discuss that very thoroughly because there’s a lot of stakeholders to be considered – the team owners, the teams, the league, the fans,” Segismundo also said.

The PBA board is to meet tomorrow, Segismundo, a Meralco top executive, is backing these options for the national squad.

“I’m an optimist. I believe in the power of people working together across different organizations for the same purpose and same goal,” said Segismundo.

The goal is to give Gilas Pilipinas a bigger window period to prepare for the World Cup and the succeeding Asian Games in Incheon, Korea. 

In the last resolution approved by the board, members of Gilas Pilipinas would be released completely to the national team only at the end of the 2013-14 PBA season by mid July.

The proposal for Gilas to play in the Governors Cup was discussed informally after Gilas’ first practice session Monday night at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.

“For me, yes (on Gilas suiting up for the final conference of the season). Anything that can give us more time to prepare and practice would be good for us,” Reyes was quoted as saying in a website story.

All members of the expanded Gilas pool were present except Jeff Chan.

The session started with Reyes and the group viewing “Kwentong Gilas,” a documentary produced and aired by Sports5 on the Philippines’ historic run in the 27th FIBA Asia Championship last year.

SBP executive director Sonny Barrios graced the session and himself talked a little about the possible Gilas participation in the PBA third conference.

The national team seeing action as guest team in a PBA tourney is nothing new.

The question is whether the PBA is ready to again amend its calendar and tournament format.