Gilas Pilipinas coach Tim Cone.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines–Gilas Pilipinas already rolled up its sleeves and got into work even before the new edition of the team was officially announced.
The Inquirer learned on Tuesday that the basketball leaders along with coach Tim Cone already met with the players ahead of Monday’s official announcement, discussing how to go about upcoming international competitions.
Gilas’ team practice is scheduled for Feb. 15, which was later confirmed by newly-minted Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director Erika Dy.
The new-look Gilas will be first put to the test on Feb. 22 in a Fiba Asia Cup qualifying game against Hong Kong at its very own Tsuen Wan Stadium. The Filipinos will then host Chinese-Taipei in a clash at PhilSports Arena set three days later.
Dy also said the Gilas brain trust, which has yet to be completed, is also mulling a closed-door training at Inspire Sports Academy in Laguna, before moving its practices to the refurbished Pasig City venue.
June Mar Fajardo, CJ Perez, Scottie Thompson, Jamie Malonzo, Calvin Oftana, Chris Newsome, young Japan-based standouts Dwight Ramos, Kai Sotto, AJ Edu, free agent Carl Tamayo, varsity star Kevin Quiambao, and Justin Brownlee have been tapped for the squad that will train and compete in the next four years, with the Basketball World Cup in Qatar—and hopefully, the Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles—in mind.
Edu, who is down with a knee problem, has been ruled out of the first window. He is, however, expected to join Gilas sometime around April.
Malonzo, who also sustained a knee injury last weekend, will need just about 10 days to recover, according to Cone.
The SBP said it is also expecting to know more about Brownlee’s availability when the international governing body makes its decision on the naturalized ace’s doping case sometime this week.