NOTHING HAS CHANGED..WE CONTROL OUR DESTINY – COMM. SALUD
Gilas-Pilipinas will not be defending its crown in the William Jones Cup slated for July 6 to 16 in Taipei after organizers felt they cannot guarantee the safety of the Filipino contingent.
While it is a vital part in the preparations of our national team for the FIBA Asia wars in August, skipping the Jones Cup doesn’t mean the country’s FIBA Asia title hopes have been dashed.
“Unfortunate as it is, we need to move forward. We need to stay strong. We need to stay focused,” said PBA commissioner Chito Salud. “Nothing has changed – we control our destiny.”
The management and coaching staff of Gilas-Pilipinas, as well as the PBA, are now looking at other options that could replace the Jones Cup stint so the Nationals can continue to toughen up in the weeks leading to the FIBA Asia Championship.
“We will not be deterred in our quest to perform well in the coming FIBA Asia Championship which our country will host,” Salud said.
Being considered are friendlies in Japan, exhibition games with other ballclubs or national teams not joining the Jones Cup and a top-caliber tournament in Europe.
The FIBA Asia Championship will be held at the MoA Arena from August 1 to 11 with the top three finishers earning tickets to the FIBA World Championships in Spain next year. (JL)
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