Gilas plan known: PBA vets to FIBA Asia Cup, cadets to SEAG

MANILA, Philippines – Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes is leaning toward sending a selection of PBA veterans to the FIBA Asia Cup in Beirut while tapping the Gilas cadets for the Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur both in August.

Reyes shared his initial plan to PBA commissioner Chito Narvasa and SBP president Al Panlilio in a meeting Thursday morning.

The three will meet again soon to finalize detailed plan on how to go about a hectic schedule of international competitions by Gilas Pilipinas leading to the Asian World Cup qualifiers.

Whatever Reyes, Narvasa and Panlilio decide upon will be presented to the PBA board for its approval.

Panlilio, the national cage federation chief who also sits on the PBA board representing the Meralco Bolts team, is hopeful they can come up with a formula that will be acceptable to all Philippine basketball stakeholders.

And he’s optimistic they can form competitive rosters in all tourneys to be participated in by Team Phl.

Going to the FIBA Asia Cup and in the Asian “WC” qualifiers, Reyes is hoping they can have the 2017 Jones Cup as a warm-up tourney.

Reyes posted on his Twitter account the prospect of a tough nine-day Jones Cup grind where they face Lithuania, Canada, Iran, Korea, Japan, India, Iraq and Teams A and B of host Chinese Taipei.

Gilas Pilipinas last played in the Taipei international invitationals in 2015 where it finished second behind Iran.

The Jones Cup is in Reyes’ wish list as it is a tourney where Gilas can gauge some Asian rivals and its readiness for the Asia Cup in Beirut slated Aug. 8-20.

Team Phl will also be able to size up Chinese Taipei and Japan, teams Gilas will be facing in the initial round of the home-and-away Asian World Cup qualifiers.

Gilas, under Reyes, topped the Jones Cup in 2012 where LA Tenorio won the MVP honors.

The Taiwanese and the Japanese made good impression in the recent East Asian Basketball Championship with Taipei beating Korea for the crown while Japan bested a young Chinese team for second runner-up honors.

“Japan will be tough at the WCQs,” said Reyes, himself impressed with the Japan team boosted by its acquisition of naturalized player Ira Brown, a former San Miguel Beer import in the PBA.

Drawing sold all-around effort from Brown, the Japanese repulsed the Koreans, 78-72, in their EABA matchup.

Reyes’ first task is the formation of a new pool.

The SEABA 12 are likely to be recalled along with the Gilas cadets. Still uncertain is the availability of naturalized player Andray Blatche.