Gilas Pilipinas during the 2023 Fiba Basketball World Cup Asian Qualifiers. FIBA PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Fielding in the best teams possible is of utmost priority for Gilas Pilipinas as it braces for a hectic schedule ahead.
As it has been in the past, the PBA is linking up with the national team program to ensure such will be the case with the league looking to adjust its calendar of events for the benefit of the national team.
“The PBA is very much supportive of the program that the [Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas] has put forth especially with Chot (Reyes) back as head coach. We sort of synchronized schedules earlier,” said Gilas team manager Butch Antonio of Tuesday’s meeting with the PBA during an appearance on SEAG Network.
The two sides met to discuss matters involving Gilas Pilipinas moving forward with several major tournaments lined up beginning with the Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, Vietnam in May.
“There will be four more windows (World Cup Asian Qualifiers) all the way up to February. There will be two SEA Games, this year in May and next year in May also, there will be an Asian Games this year, there will be a FIBA Asia Cup this year,” said Antonio.
“The PBA will have their conferences going on and they will even have EASL participation so all this have to come together perfectly so we can prepare for the World Cup,” he added.
Gilas Pilipinas will likely be composed mainly of PBA standouts for the upcoming SEA Games with the UAAP and NCAA seasons tipping off later this month.
“All of this is all towards the preparation so that we can come up with the best team possible for the World Cup,” Antonio said.