THE Philippine Basketball Association and Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas are to work hand-in-hand in another important engagement. With a lineup crippled by commitments by some players overseas, Gilas Pilipinas is banking on the pro league for some reinforcements for the coming February window of the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers.
The PBA Board of Governors is to hold an emergency meeting to craft a resolution on the matter requested by returning Gilas coach Chot Reyes.
In a zoom meeting with PBA commissioner Willie Marcial, deputy commissioner Eric Castro and special assistant to the commissioner Mich Flores Thursday morning, Reyes presented a plan to tap some TNT players to fill holes in the Gilas lineup.
Promising Gilas cadets, led by young giant Kai Sotto, composed the team that put up great showings in the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers and in the 2021 Olympic qualifier in Serbia. But a number of them are now unavailable because of engagements abroad.
"Ayaw naman i-disrupt ni coach Chot ang PBA. So ang plano niya mag-inject lang ng TNT players sa Gilas for the qualifiers set in the last week of February," said Marcial.
"What we would do now is to adjust our schedule to accommodate the request. Paglalaruin na agad namin ang TNT sa Governors' Cup resumption, four to five games, para pagdating ng FIBA qualifiers, libre na ang TNT players," Marcial added.
If plans push through, the SBP will host the February window at the Smart Araneta Coliseum where Gilas plays South Korea on Feb. 24, India on Feb. 25 and New Zealand on Feb. 27.
The next window will start in June with the Philippines facing India on the 30th and New Zealand on July 3. (SB)(PBA)
(Photo credits to: The Manila Times)