Dual duty slows down buildup
GILAS CRAMS IN TRAINING FOR FIBA QUALIFIERS, PBA SKED
The PBA and the SBP need to work on a new agreement for the next phase of the FIBA Olympic qualifiers as Gilas players will also serve their mother ball clubs and the national team in preparation for the second window of the Olympics eliminators set Feb. 22-25.
June Mar Fajardo, Japeth Aguilar, Jason Castro and their teammates are still required to play for their PBA teams in the run-up to their next two games in the Olympic qualifiers versus Australia in Melbourne on Feb. 22 and against Japan at the MOA Arena on Feb. 25.
The Gilas pool members will be completely free from their mother teams only upon their departure on Feb. 19.
Coach Chot Reyes and his pool were to start their daily grind yesterday, but it’s doubtful if they get to practice with a full roster until their arrival in Melbourne.
“We’ll miss in practice at least seven players during a PBA game day,” said a Gilas coaching staff member.
PBA commissioner Willie Marcial confirmed to The STAR the setup in training.
Marcial said the board may make the adjustments for the next window slated June 28 to July 2. The PBA top honcho and SBP executive director Sonny Barrios had their initial meeting yesterday.
“A possibility is the PBA not scheduling games for next FIBA window so as not to have a conflict with the FIBA games,” said Marcial.
Needless to say, Gilas is cramming in its buildup for its first match with Australia and a second-round duel with Japan.
To avoid further distractions, the Gilas coach ordered closed-door training starting yesterday. “Hoping for everyone’s understanding,” he said.
One good development was the early arrival of naturalized player Andray Blatche.
Blatche looked well in shape and ready to make good on his vow to make up for a lackluster showing the last time as he appeared at the Big Dome Sunday night.
The Gilas naturalized player apologized to his teammates for his poor showing in the Philippines’ 9083 win over Chinese Taipei in the first window of the FIBA Asia Olympic qualifier last November. He made only two of nine field-goal tries then, missing all five attempts from the arc.