COMPRESSED GOVS CUP PAVES WAY FOR GILAS’ ASIA CUP STINT
There’s no more hindrance in Gilas Pilipinas’ plan to compete in the fifth FIBA Asia Cup in Wuhan, China ahead of the 2014 FIBA World Cup in Spain.
The Philippine Basketball Association cleared the way for coach Chot Reyes and his team as the PBA Board of Governors gave its nod on the proposal to further compress the season-ending Governors’ Cup.
The Governors’ Cup was to end by the middle of July under the tourney’s already revised schedule – in conflict with the Asia Cup set July 11-19.
“We’re continuing to explore ways of further compressing the third conference with the end view of allowing our Gilas team to participate in the FIBA Asia Cup,” said PBA commissioner Chito Salud.
“We wanted to make sure that Gilas could leave by the 10th of July to be able to participate in the Wuhan tourney. We have yet to finalize the schedule but the Board is fully supportive of the idea of giving Gilas the chance to have a preparatory tourney for the World Cup,” Salud added.
The local pro league is now looking at playing 10 games a week to accommodate the national team’s wish to have an international exposure ahead of its stints in the World Cup and the succeeding Asian Games in Korea.
“There will be no change in the tournament format. We’ll have just a three-day break in between the second and third conferences. Then we further compress the third conference sked,” said Salud. “Whether it’s a triple header or double-header five times a week, we’ll let you know.”
With this development, scrapped was the proposal to let Gilas play in the third conference.
“It’s no longer necessary,” said Salud.
“The competition Gilas will get in Wuhan will be more suitable to the kind of preparation they want for the World Cup and the Asian Games as compared to participating in the PBA third conference,” Salud pointed out.
Host China and defending champion Iran are the teams already confirmed to play in the Asia Cup where the winner gets outright entry to the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship.
In the last Asia Cup held in Tokyo, Japan in 2012, Gilas Pilipinas placed fourth behind Iran, Japan and Qatar. (SB)
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