Yeng Guiao coaches Gilas Pilipinas. Photo from Fiba.basketball
In order to simulate its classification round assignments in the World Cup in China, Gilas Pilipinas has ditched plans to train in Russia and instead, will be flying to Spain to get the tune-up matches it needs.
Gilas coaching staff led by Yeng Guiao had initially planned to stage training camp in Russia, but with the federation there able to offer the Philippines only one tune-up game, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas has taken a look at Spain and a mini-tournament that will have the Spaniards, Ivory Coast and Congo playing.
Andrei Kirilenko, the former Jazz in the NBA, is the Russian federation head, could only assure Gilas one tune-up game.
The Filipinos are bracketed with Serbia, Italy and Senegal in Foshan for the Aug. 31-Sept. 15 Worlds, and playing in Spain would more or less give them the same feel that they will have when the real tournament begins.
Spain is a global power in the sport, and could field a team that is stacked with NBA talents like brothers Pau and Marc Gasol and point guard Ricky Rubio.
Basically, that’s what the Serbians are with the team to be led by the talented Nikola Jokic.
The date of the trip though is still being finalized as the PBA—where the Gilas players will come from—is still in the midst of doing a revision of its Commissioner’s Cup schedule.
“Based on the schedule we (SBP) submitted to the PBA, that’s what is calendared (in Spain)—practice games and a mini-tournament,” said SBP president Al Panlilio after attending the regular board meeting of the league presided by chair Ricky Vargas.
The PBA schedule has also prevented Gilas from playing in the Jones Cup in Taipei in July where a number of national teams are playing also to get ready for the World Cup.
Andray Blatche will headline the Philippine Five as they play in the Worlds for the second straight time after participating in 2014 in Spain where Gilas won a group match—an 81-79 overtime win over Senegal.
PBA today
Meanwhile, Blackwater will be facing a formidable foe yet again, and—again—rookie coach Aris Dimaunahan can only promise one thing.
“We will just fight very hard, that I can assure you,” Dimaunahan said over the phone on the eve of the Elite’s clash with Phoenix Fuel in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup eliminations Friday at Mall of Asia Arena.
“That’s the only thing we’ve been doing the entire time—fighting hard,” Dimaunahan said as they gun for a 4-0 card after the 4:30 p.m. contest which would equal the franchise-best mark to open a conference.
“The players just love the challenge, and they are enjoying what they do.”
Hulking import Lance Stepheson and rookie Ray Parks have jibed with the old core of the Elite to produce wondrous results, though Dimaunahan knows that the Fuel Masters will be super tough with returning Rob Dozier leading them.
Rain or Shine, another losing semifinalist in the all-Filipino, also makes its debut, clashing with Meralco at 7 p.m. where the Elasto Painters unveil former B-Meg/Purefoods import Denzel Bowles.