SBP mapping out plan for Gilas training resumption

SAMAHANG Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) is still on the planning stage when it comes to the national team’s training resumption, according to head coach Jong Uichico.

“We are still in the planning stage whenever we are allowed to resume,” Uichico told The Manila Times.

Gilas, together with the Philippine taekwondo team, stopped its bubble training at the Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba, Laguna.

The halt came after the government put the area and the rest of the National Capital Region and nearby provinces under enhanced community quarantine from March 29 to April 11 due to the alarming spike of Covid-19 cases.

The lockdown has since been eased to modified enhanced community quarantine until April’s end, but sports training, except for individual or online workouts, are still prohibited.

Gilas as well as the other national teams can only return to training in areas under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) — the most loose quarantine classification in the country.

The Philippine fencing and archery teams continue their training in Ormoc and Dumaguete, respectively, since the two cities are under MGCQ.

Justin Baltazar, Dwight Ramos, and Carl Tamayo bannered the all-cadet Gilas pool that trained at Inspire. Is an infusion of Philippine Basketball Association players possible at this time?

“Everything is up in the air,” said Uichico. “We are still planning as of this time all possible options.”

The Gilas pool is preparing for the final window of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers, which Clark, Pampanga will co-host from June 16 to 20.

The Philippines leads the Group A standings with a 3-0 slate, needing one win only in three games to make the FIBA Asia Cup proper in India in August. Gilas will face South Korea twice and Indonesia once in the tilt.

The national basketball team is also preparing for the Olympic Qualifying Tournament from June 29 to July 4 in Serbia.