Fiba Asia Cup stint for Gilas Pilipinas

MANILA, Philippines–Gilas Pilipinas won’t play in the PBA Governors’ Cup but will see action instead in the Fiba Asia Cup (formerly Stankovic Cup) in China against the best teams in Asia in its buildup for the World Cup in Spain in August.

In a meeting Thursday, the PBA’s board of governors has given the Office of the Commissioner the task of pruning down the Governors’ Cup schedule further to allow Gilas members to be able to leave for the Fiba Asia Cup in Wuhan, China, by July 10.

The board felt that the Asia Cup would be a better and tougher exposure for the Nationals rather than competing as a guest team in the Governors’ Cup against depleted PBA teams playing with imports.

“We’re continuing to explore ways of further compressing our third conference in view of allowing our Gilas team to participate in the Fiba tourney in July,” commissioner Chito Salud said after meeting with team representatives.

“With this option, their (Nationals’) participation in the third conference is no longer necessary,” Salud continued. “Coach Chot (Reyes) stressed that the competition the team will get in Wuhan is more suitable.”

The last time the country played in the Fiba Asia Cup was in Tokyo two years ago where they finished fourth.

Meanwhile, the PBA will impose the payment of a performance bond and a franchise fee of P100 million to each of the three companies applying for inclusion in the league.

The performance bond is necessary so that a five-year stint will be guaranteed.

NLEX, Ever Bilena and KIA Motors have earlier filed letters of intent to join the league.

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