Barrios eyes PBA Governors’ Cup stint for Gilas Pilipinas

MANILA, Philippines — Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director and former PBA commissioner Sonny Barrios, said he will bat for the inclusion of Gilas Pilipinas as a guest team in the Governors’ Cup.

“I know that it will not be that simple. But it will be doable,” Barrios said Monday night when he spoke to players and coaching staff during Gilas’ first practice at Philsports Arena in Pasig. “It’s not as if it is a revolutionary idea, it has been done in the past.”

Coach Chot Reyes wants to have his full roster ready for the tough grind by July 15, and getting the squad some competition time would help as they prepare for the World Cup in Spain from Aug. 30 to Sept. 14 and the Asian Games from Sept. 19 to Oct. 4.

Reyes is also cool to the idea since the Nationals will not be playing in any other tournament before flying for Spain.

“Anything that would give us more time to practice and prepare will be good for the team,” Reyes said. “I am not aware of this [PBA participation] and I don’t know how real that possibility is.”