Gilas to play Turkey, join Italy pocket tilt

Gilas Pilipinas during one of its practices. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

GILAS Pilipinas will train in the country only until June 10 before embarking in a European sojourn for training camp that will be capped by its stint in a pocket tournament in Italy.

Up for the Nationals in that schedule will be an arduous  camp in Greece at a facility called Kapernici before Gilas flies to Turkey to play its national team there.

That game with the Turks will be the first of two as the Filipinos will host them here on July 1, the final tuneup for Gilas before plunging into Olympic Qualifying Tournament action on July 5 against France at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.

The Filipinos will clash with the Canadians, the Chinese  and the Italians in a pocket tourney in Bologna after the Greek camp.

Gilas will be in Group B in Manila and will be colliding with  France and New Zealand in the first phase, needing to win at least one game in order to advance and keep alive hopes of a return to the Games after four decades.

Rain or Shine’s Paul Lee and Gabe Norwood and Alaska’s Calvin Abueva are expected to join the pool within the week.