The Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas (SBP) is ready to send Gilas-Pilipinas to whatever continent so that the Nationals will get the preparation they need for the Fiba Asia Championship.
Officials of the SBP made this decision yesterday at an emergency meeting to discuss the team’s options after Taiwan’s basketball authorities withdrew their invitation to Gilas-Pilipinas for the Jones Cup, set in early July.
The SBP is considering stints in Europe, Australia and the United States for the Nationals who are hoping to sharpen up for the Asian qualifier, set Aug. 1 to 11 at Mall of Asia Arena, to the World Basketball Championship in Madrid.
“We are going to call our (international) contacts and explore all our options,” said Gilas-Pilipinas team manager Butch Antonio after the meeting attended by coach Chot Reyes and top SBP officials.
The Philippines was supposed to use the Jones Cup as the final phase of its preparations for the Manila joust, only to learn that the event’s organizers would not invite the country ostensibly for security reasons.
Jones Cup organizers wrote SBP president Manny V. Pangilinan last Monday to inform him that they could not guarantee the safety of the Filipino players in Taipei.
Relations between the Philippines and Taiwan have hit rock-bottom following the fatal shooting of a Taiwanese fisherman by Philippine Coast Guard personnel in waters off Balintang Island, north of Batanes.
The incident sparked demonstrations in Taiwan and, later, assaults on Filipino workers in the island republic, which claimed the shooting happened in waters within its exclusive economic zone.
“We’re looking for replacement tournaments now, but nothing definite yet,” Reyes said in a text message to the Inquirer. “It’s okay for us not to play at the Jones Cup as long as we can play in other (high-caliber) tournaments.”
Behind tournament Most Valuable Player LA Tenorio, the Philippines won the Jones Cup last year after a close victory over the United States in the finals.
Because all the best Asian teams are playing in the Jones Cup, the coaching staff would have had the chance to scout the opposition in the Fiba Asia.
The Nationals are scheduled to fly to Lithuania on Saturday for a two-week training camp. Exhibition matches against PBA selections have also been scheduled in Cebu, Davao and Manila.
The Manila Fiba Asia marks the first time in 40 years that the country will host a tournament of this magnitude. The Philippines is shooting for one of three continental berths at stake to return to the world championship scene.
Spain will host the Fiba Basketball World Cup, known until 2010 as the Fiba World Championship, next year.
The Jones Cup snub was the latest spoiler to the Gilas-Pilipinas’ buildup.
The team already lost key cogs Kelly Williams and Jared Dillinger to injuries. Alaska’s 6-foot-7 banger Sonny Thoss will also miss the Lithuania trip because of a nagging back injury.