FILE–Gilas Pilipinas members celebrate with their gold medals after defeating Jordan in their men’s basketball gold medal at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, Friday, Oct. 6, 2023. REUTERS/Marko Djurica
A new, and long-term Gilas Pilipinas coach will be named on Monday according to Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP).
No less than federation president Al S. Panlilio shared the development with the Inquirer on Sunday afternoon, adding that a pool of players will also be identified.
Panlilio said the announcement will be made “before the (Philippine Sportswriters Association) Awards.”
Incidentally, Gilas will be feted with the President’s Award at the Diamond Hotel Ballroom in Manila later that night for quenching the country’s 61-year-old Asian Games basketball gold drought.
The appointment will come ahead of several international tournaments, the earliest being the Fiba Asia Cup qualifiers which unfurl on Feb. 22. There, the Philippines will be battling Hong Kong on its home turf, and then Chinese-Taipei here in Manila for the first of three windows for the continental meet.
READ: Tim Cone says SBP still ‘up in the air’ on Gilas coaching job
Also scheduled is the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Riga, Latvia, in July, where the Philippines will have one last shot at qualifying for the Summer Olympic Games that will be held in Paris, France, the next month.
Tim Cone was the last mentor to call the shots for the national five, leading a hastily-assembled squad to the Asian Games basketball gold in Hangzhou, China, back in October.
The Gin Kings’ coach, who also owns the most victories in the PBA, has also emerged as a frontrunner for the Gilas post.