SBP to form selection committee for next Gilas team

MANILA, Philippines –Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Manny V. Pangilinan, in a board meeting Tuesday at the PLDT Makati office, has proposed a “participative and consultative approach” in the initial selection process for future national teams to address at least nine international tournaments scheduled for 2015.

Among the events set next year are the 28th Southeast Asian Games in Singapore in June and the 28th FIBA Asia Championship in China in August which will serve as the regional qualifier to the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in 2016.

To this end, the SBP board approved the formation of a screening-selection committee composed of SBP board members representing the UAAP, NCAA, CESAFI, NAASCU and the SBP through executive director Sonny Barrios “for national teams not involving PBA players (e.g. SEABA/ SEAG and the like).

Elite tournaments like the FIBA Asia Qualifying, World Cup, Asian Games, which involve PBA players, will go through the committee composed of SBP Board members from the PBA, PBA D-League and the SBP.

The committees will “short list” candidates for submission to the SBP Executive Committee made up of the SBP chairman, president, vice chairman, vice president and executive director “for ultimate final approval of the SBP Board of Trustees.”

During the meeting, the SBP board was also briefed by Pangilinan on the country’s initial bid to host the 2019 FIBA World Cup, with FIBA coming up with a list of candidates by the end of next month.

Thoroughly discussed as well was SBP’s expanded grassroots development program, with Pangilinan outlining his plan to “undertake an all-encompassing overall nationwide program” for the next two years.

The SBP head urged regional SBP leaders to take a more active role in “crafting the program for implementation in their own backyards.”

The novel 3x3 format which FIBA is actively pushing via the multi-leg Masters Tour as a means to spread the gospel of the game will also get a major boost across the country, especially in the towns and municipalities.

Established national leagues at different age groups – 18 yrs. and over via the PCCL , with Rey Gamboa and coach Joe Lipa; Joe Lipa);  under 18 via the NBTC of coach Eric Altamirano; and under 16 through the BEST Center of coach Nic Jorge – will be tapped for SBP’s grassroots undertaking.

Similarly set for launching are the SBP Referees National Accreditation Commission and a nationwide SBP coaching program.