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Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) is looking to draw up the roster of PBA players it plans to include in Gilas Pilipinas’ talent pool for the third window of the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers next week.
“Hopefully by next week,”Said on Saturday the president of the SBP, Al Panlilio, in a virtual joint press conference together with the PBA, the CDC and the BCDA on the hosting of the country of said window in February.
PBA players are finally available for national team duties, unlike last November, when everyone was inside the league bubble in the Clark Freeport Zone for the 2020 Philippine Cup, finally ruled by Barangay Geneva.
The SBP then opted to go with a cadet team for that lean, and the youngsters did not disappoint when they swept Thailand, both enthusiastically, to raise the Philippines record to 3-0 and take Group pole position. TO.
Still, the national team would rather have professionals on board like in the first window last February, where a mix of PBA players and former prominent schoolboys trampled Indonesia along the way.
Gilas will meet his regional rivals again in the third window, but he will face a team that has improved dramatically in the past 11 months following the addition of naturalized player Lester Prosper and Brandon Jawato.
Indonesians aside, Filipino dribblers have long been ready to collide with Korean torturers. They were supposed to meet at the last window in Bahrain, but the Koreans pleaded out of COVID-19 concerns.
With those assignments, Panlilio further emphasized the need to count on the PBA players to reinforce the Nationals.
“We would like to bring in some players from the PBA as this window seems to be a difficult window for us.“Said the friendly executive.
“I will work with [Gilas program director] Coach tab [Baldwin]. Hopefully next week. “
Meanwhile, PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial is patiently waiting for the SBP list. He assured once again that the league fully supports whatever the federation plans to do that needs his help.
“We’re already talking, I said say it right away to tell the players right away. As long as we have players we have no problem ”. he said.
Gilas plans to shorten his Christmas season as he appears to begin his preparations in early January. His training will take place once again in a bubble setting at the Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba, Laguna.
