SUDDEN changes in the composition of Gilas Pilipinas makes it even more imperative that the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas and the PBA hold their talks soon, possibly within this week.
Commissioner Willie Marcial said certain questions have to be answered so the pro league and the SBP could work better for the 2023 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers scheduled Feb. 24-28 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“Andaming tanong kaya dapat talagang maidaos na agad ‘yung usapan,” Marcial told Malaya-Business Insight yesterday. “By this week dapat, nasagot na lahat ‘yung mga tanong… o at least ‘yung karamihan sa mga tanong.”
Among the questions Marcial wants answered pertain to the composition of the national team for the qualifiers since TNT tactician Chot Reyes has now been tapped anew to handle Gilas.
Isaac Go, brothers Matt and Mike Nieto, Rey Suerte and Allyn Bulanadi, all taken in the PBA’s 2019 special draft but could not be utilized by their PBA teams until released from Gilas, have all reportedly opted not to remain with the program after their contract expired last Monday.
Go will now play for Terrafirma, Suerte for Blackwater, Matt Nieto for NLEX, Bulanadi for Alaska, and Mike Nieto to Rain or Shine.
The Gilas national pool remains loaded with amateur standouts, however, with former UP Fighting Maroon Juan Gomez de Llano hinting of a possible return to Gilas duties after his stint in the Japanese B. League.
Also in the national pool are Juan’s brother Javi, Dwight Ramos, William Navarro, Tzaddy Rangel, Jaydee Tungcab and naturalized Filipino Angelo Kouame.
Due to time constraints and with less than 10 amateur players available for the national pool, Reyes has declared he is open to tapping the core of TNT for national duty.
“Gagamit ba ng PBA (players) o ‘yung Cadets pa rin?” posed Marcial.
Last Monday, it was announced that Reyes is taking over from Tab Baldwin as Gilas coach.
Reyes and the Tropang Giga are currently at the Mt. Malarayat Golf and Country Club in Lipa City where they are holding their scrimmages under a bubble set-up.
“Dapat kasama si coach Chot, pero nasa Batangas. Ewan ko, baka mag-conference call na lang kami,” said Marcial. “Pero kailangan talaga kapag nag-usap kasama siya.”
