FIBA WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS Middle East tuneup for Gilas mulled

Gilas Pilipinas coach Yeng Guiao said the national team could play tuneup games in the Middle East ahead of the sixth window of FIBA World Cup qualifiers in February 2019.

The Nationals will play two games in the last qualifying tournament – against Qatar on February 21 and Kazakhstan on February 24

“It’s a possibility since we’re already there,” said Guiao yesterday. “Maybe we’ll travel to the Middle East two weeks before the game against Qatar and play several tuneup games there.”

Consultations will be first made though with the amahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas and the PBA board, Guiao said.

The two games in the last qualifying window are must-win matches since the Philippines had dropped its home games against Iran and Kazakhstan at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The setbacks against Kazakhstan (92-88) and Iran (78-70) gave Gilas a 5-5 card for fourth place in Group F behind Australia (7-1), Iran (7-3) and Japan (6-4).

Guiao said he would meet with the coaching staff this week to craft their overall program before submitting it to the SBP for approval and to the PBA for the players’ availability.

“If we can have the players for once or twice a week practice soon, that’s going to help us big with our preparation,” said Guiao.

“As I’ve already mentioned, it’s likely that we’ll trim the team to 15 players, prepare them for the two games,” he added.

Guiao is expected to name the 15-man national team soon, and the list may include naturalized player Andray Blatche, who has already expressed his desire to again play for the Philippines in the qualifiers.