[ad_1]
No PBA player will join the Gilas Pilipinas teams that will compete in the 2021 FIBA Asian Cup qualifiers and the Olympic Qualification Tournament (OQT) in Serbia later this year.
Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) president Al Panlilio said Tuesday that the national team will be represented by a team of cadets at both tournaments.
Gilas’ special recruits in 2019 and all four of this March will be added to the pool that will compete for a spot at the rescheduled Tokyo Olympics.
The timing of both tournaments in conflict with the PBA calendar contributed to the decision to send a non-professional team, Panlilio said. This also means that SBP’s plan to allow Gilas to join a 2021 season conference this year will be scrapped.
“The window for the FIBA Asia Cup should occur approximately in the second week of June,” said Panlilio, “and the OQT in Serbia is already dated from June 28 to July 4.” “It will be difficult for us to join the tournament.”
SBP is already analyzing other backup plans, Panlilio said.
“We are thinking of having a pocket tournament maybe before the June window,” said Panlilio. “Maybe two teams from the PBA can join the pocket tournament, a two- or three-day tournament.”
