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Gilas Pilipinas plays just two games when the national team collides with Thailand twice in the 2021 FIBA Asian Cup qualifiers within a bubble on November 26-30 in Manama, Bahrain.
After clarifications made by Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) led by its president Al Panlilio, FIBA announced the final schedule for the two groups, A and D, in the qualifiers.
The national team is in Group A along with South Korea, Indonesia and Thailand, although the Koreans do not participate in this event due to the COVID-19 situation.
That leaves only three teams for the group.
Although the Indonesians appear in the tournament, FIBA decided to reschedule the game between the Philippines and Indonesia, or go back to its original February 2021 schedule.
However, the final schedule was a welcome development for Gilas Pilipinas, who departed for Bahrain last Sunday facing questions about which teams they will face in the FIBA restart.
“It makes it simpler, but it’s not easy,” said Jong Uichico, who has been appointed head coach of the national team by the SBP for the second window of the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers.
The national team plays against Thailand first on Friday and again on Monday.
Rather than just 13 players, Uichico and the coaching staff, which also includes project director Gilas, Tab Baldwin and Boyet Fernandez, opted to bring in 15, including star pitcher Allyn Bulanadi.
The former San Sebastian star injured his knee during the practice session here, although his inclusion in the Bahrain bubble opens up the possibility that he will be named in the final of 12 as he continues to recover.
Of the original 16-man team included in the training group, only naturalized prospect Angelo Kouame did not join the trip.
Aside from Bulanadi, the leading Gilas are PBA draft rookies Isaac Go, Matt and Mike Nieto, and Rey Suerte.
They are joined by the unconditional collegiate Kobe Paras, Calvin Oftana, Justin Baltazar, Kenmark Carino, Dave Ildefonso, Will Navarro, Jaydee Tungcab and the brothers Juan and Javi Gómez de Liano.
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