Gilas Pilipinas Team. Photo by Noy Morcoso lll/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Gilas Pilipinas is expected to have its hands full when it battles a PBA selection in the main event of the 2014 All-Star weekend at Mall of Asia Arena.
The Sunday showdown marks the first time the national team will play competitively amid its preparations for the Fiba World Cup in Spain and the Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea, set later this year.
Coach Chot Reyes and the nationals last played together in front of basketball-loving Filipinos during the Fiba Asia Men’s Championship when they lost to Iran in the gold medal match.
The PBA All-Stars are hoping to give the nationals a good fight on a year the league celebrates the 25th year of the mid-season spectacle.
“We haven’t seen Gilas Pilipinas in action for about eight months and the way we look at it, the public will only have access to them (nationals) in action during the All-Star game,” said PBA board chair Ramon Segismundo Tuesday during a special Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum at Shakey’s Malate.
Coached by Tim Cone, the All-Star team will be reinforced by two-time MVP James Yap, last year’s top rookie pick Greg Slaughter and former Gilas team members Mark Barroca and Marcio Lassiter, among others.
“The All-Stars would also want to prove they are capable too of becoming a part of the national team if given a chance,” said PBA operations director Rickie Santos, who was also at the forum presented by Accel, Shakey’s, and Pagcor.
This event, supported by Mall of Asia, Solaire Hotel, Magnolia Purewater, Gatorade, and Maynilad, is going to be held in Manila for the first time since the 2003 edition held at the Big Dome.