TAIPEI—The PBA has just gone “all in” for Gilas Pilipinas.
In order to help the National team program field the best team possible, the PBA has given the green light to coach Chot Reyes to tap its multimillionaire veterans for the coming Fiba Asia even if the event is not part of the hectic World Cup Qualifying series.
At the same time, the league has also moved the opening of its next season to December to accommodate Gilas in the first three home-and-away series of the WCQ as the PBA has now made it sure that Reyes can have the time with his players.
Commissioner Chito Narvasa made this announcement in a teleconference with a small group of Filipino media covering the 39th Jones Cup Invitational here and it ends weeks of speculation as to who will represent the Philippines in the Lebanon showcase slated Aug. 8 to 20.
“It was agreed upon by the board (of governors) that the PBA should participate,” Narvasa said. “The PBA, its coaches in particular, were just informed of the schedule (of the Gilas events), which is important to all of them.”
Another thing which the PBA will do is tweak the schedule of the Governors’ Cup, which is set to open on Wednesday, so as not to disrupt the teams that will lend its stars to the team that will play in Beirut.
Gilas Cadet members who are now playing in the Jones Cup will also represent the country in the Southeast Asian Games from Aug. 20 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, practically assuring the likes of June Mar Fajardo, Terrence Romeo and Calvin Abueva will play in Lebanon.