THE PBA is out to give Gilas Pilipinas a big help anew.
Commissioner Willie Marcial said the pro league has moved the initial opening of the season-ending Philippine Cup from March 2 to Feb. 28 to give way to the Nationals’ Olympic qualifying tournament bid.
“Nag-adjust na kami ng schedule. Dapat ang opening nito (Philippine Cup), March 2.
Ginawa naming Feb. 28 para ma-accommodate namin iyong request ni coach Tim (Cone) na seven to 10 days before iyong window ay makapag-practice sila,” Marcial said. “So, iyon nga, by June 21, wala na tayo kasi may laro yata sila by the 28th.
“So, iyong ang promise natin kay coach Tim at kung ano iyong gusto ng mga players,” he added.
The Philippine five is set to do battle in the OQT from July 2 to 7 in Latvia in its drive to clinch a slot in the Paris Olympics.
Marcial insisted the adjusted schedule is just fine with all the teams in Asia’s first play-for-pay league.
“Ever since naman noong nandyan tayo, hindi sila pumapalag, Okay sila,” Marcial said, referring to team owners.
“Basta Okay iyong players, Okay iyong teams and team owners. Kasi nga, corny man o paulit-ulit, para sa bayan.”
Naturalized star Justin Brownlee banners the 12-man line-up of Cone expected to stay for the next four years that also includes Scottie Thompson, Jamie Malonzo, Chris Newsome, Calvin Oftana, CJ Perez, June Mar Fajardo, Dwight Ramos, AJ Edu, Carl Tamayo, Kai Sotto, and Kevin Quiambao.
The Philippines is bracketed with host and world No. 8 Latvia, and No. 23 Georgia in Group A in the Olympic qualifying tournament.
The 38th-ranked Gilas quintet must finish in the top two of its group to advance to the crossover semifinals against the top two of Group B, which includes No. 12 Brazil, No. 17 Montenegro, and No. 67 Cameroon.
The winners of the crossover semis will clash for the lone slot in the Olympics.
The OQT will be held through four tourneys simultaneously in the cities of Piraeus, Riga, San Juan, and Valencia.
