Gilas Pilipinas could play as guest team in PBA Philippine Cup

FILE — Young Gilas team which competed in the 2021 Fiba Asia Cup qualifiers in Bahrain. FIBA PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Gilas Pilipinas could join this year’s PBA Philippine Cup as a guest team, according to league commissioner Willie Marcial.

Marcial said the plan was brought up during the PBA Board meeting on Monday with the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas also open to the idea.

The Philippine team is set to play in the third and final window of the 2021 Fiba Asia Cup qualifiers in Doha this month, needing only one win to secure a slot in the continental meet in August.

“Fielding in Gilas as a guest team will help them prepare more for their upcoming competitions. It’s also a chance for Filipinos to familiarize themselves with the team,” Marcial told INQUIRER.net in Filipino on Tuesday.

“And I think Gilas won’t be playing again until August so there’s a chance that they will be able to play in the PBA.”

If the plan pushes through, Gilas will likely be made up of Isaac Go, Rey Suerte, twins Matt and Mike Nieto, and Allyn Bulanadi, who were all selected in the special draft in 2019.

Another Gilas draft will be held in March where the SBP intends to pick three to five players.

Marcial added the PBA will also let Gilas field in the Cadets as well as a naturalized player.

The PBA has set an April 9 date for the opening of its 46th season but with the COVID-19 pandemic still at large and with the emergence of a new coronavirus strain nothing is final yet, as per Marcial.