SAMAHANG Basketbol ng Pilipinas Executive Director Sonny Barrios has admitted the exodus of top amateur standouts — and even PBA players — overseas is fast becoming a concern for the cage body.
“It’s a concern. In fact, as part of the moving forward initiatives, pinag-aaralan ngayon ng SBP together with major stakeholders,” Barrios said last Tuesday in the online Philippine Sportswriters Association forum.
“When I say major stakeholders, these are organizations such as (the) PBA, UAAP, NCAA, kung paano ma-address, among others, itong juicy offers being forwarded to our potential national players,” he added.
Ateneo playmaker SJ Belangel, who is still eligible to suit up for the Blue Eagles for two years, opted to turn pro last Tuesday and will bring his act to the Korean Basketball League with the Daegu Kogas Pegasus.
Former La Salle prized center Justine Baltazar pulled out of the pro league rookie draft last month and instead signed with Hiroshima in the Japan B. League.
Brothers Kiefer and Thirdy Ravena, Bobby Ray Parks Jr., Kobe Paras, Dwight Ramos, Javi and Juan Gomez de Liaño, Kemark Cariño, and Matthew Aquino are among those who saw action last season in the fledgling Japan league.
After a one season stint with Adelaide in Australia’s National Basketball League, 7-foot-3 Kai Sotto is also joining the NBA draft this month in his bid to become the first homegrown Filipino to gain NBA foothold, while Fil-Australian Jordan Heading and Fil-Am Jason Brickman saw action in Taiwan’s T1 league.
Barrios, a former PBA commissioner, emphasized the importance of forming the best team for the FIBA World Cup next year.
“The journey of our team towards 2023 is both long and short. Long kasi hindi pa naman next month, short dahil it’s 14 or 15 months to go,” Barrios said in the public sports program presented by San Miguel Corp., Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Milo, Amelie Hotel Manila, Unilever, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.
“May mga tournaments na puro ‘young ones, may tournament na may mix of PBA players. So, lahat iyon kasama sa pagsusuri natin kung paano natin tatalakayin iyong final portion of the preparation.”
Nenad Vucinic will call the shots for Gilas for the World Cup qualifiers, before Chot Reyes takes over for the Asia Cup Championship, an arrangement that Barrios said has been approved even before the Vietnam SEA Games.
