Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes during a huddle in the 2023 Fiba World Cup Asian Qualifiers here. FIBA PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—The national cage program is set to name a 15-man contingent for the Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam this May, which is likely to feature a bevy of talents from the pro ranks.
Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) commissioner Willie Marcial bared the development to a few reporters on Wednesday night, on the heels of a short meeting with national coach and director Chot Reyes at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“I’ve spoken to the team governors and the players and they’ve all agreed to be tapped for the SEA Games. Coach Chot has been notified of everyone’s availability as well,” Marcial said.
“No hesitations from the part of players. They just wanted to make sure of the scheduling,” he went on.
It could be recalled that the PBA Board convened on Monday, discussing Reyes’ request for access to the league’s finest players in a bid to prime the national cage program for the World Cup that the Philippines is set to co-host with Indonesia and Japan in August next year.
“For now, our focus is this SEA Games,” said Marcial of the meet, where the Philippines is the reigning basketball champion.
The league chief shared that Reyes is expected to identify the players in the roster ahead of the SEA Games’ organizing committee’s deadline for accreditation for athletes which is set this coming Saturday.
Marcial begged off from disclosing any more information in deference to the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas and Reyes, but called the composition of the team as a “hybrid” squad.
The selection is shaping up to be full of PBA players once again as varsity stars are set to miss the Hanoi showpiece due to the collegiate season.
Meanwhile, Filipinos plying their wares overseas, particularly those in Japan like Thirdy Ravena and Dwight Ramos, could reinforce Gilas Pilipinas anew as the B.League season has wrapped up by then.