Current PBA coaches may still be tapped to handle the Gilas Pilipinas national squad but whoever is chosen by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas will be asked to go on leave from his team so he could concentrate on his job as national five mentor.
SBP executive director Sonny Barrios issued this clarification yesterday in the wake of his announcement the other day that the Gilas selection committee had reduced the list of coaching prospects to two, whose names will be submitted later to SBP president Manny V. Pangilinan for approval.
In a brief text message, Barrios said that coaches Tim Cone of Purefoods, Norman Black of Meralco, Jong Uichico of Talk ‘N Text and Yeng Guiao of Rain or Shine are still eligible to join the list of coaching hopefuls. The SBP will ask the winning candidate, though, to go on leave from his PBA club.
All four had prior international experience handling the Philippine five.