PBA shortens Govs’ Cup sched for Gilas
THE PBA Board of Governors has agreed to shorten the season-ending Governors’ Cup as Asia’s oldest play-for-pay cage loop intends to throw its 100 percent support behind Gilas Pilipinas’ preparation for the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
League commissioner Willie Marcial bared the latest adjustments the PBA will be making following the latest board meeting held before the weekend.
Marcial explained that the national squad, which will still be composed of players from the pro league, will again take the lead in the country’s quest to regain the men’s basketball gold in the 2023 Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia.
Bannered predominantly by PBA players, and mentored by Chot Reyes, Gilas Pilipinas failed to defend the country’s
SEA Games gold medal after bowing to Indonesia last June, snapping the Philippines’ 32-year domination of the sport in the region.
“Baka tayo pa rin ang sumali sa SEA Games,” said Marcial on Saturday. “Baka maglaro tayo ng Thursday or may triple header. Kailangan bilisan natin para mabigyan ng time na makapag-practice (ang national team) bago mag SEA Games.”
Once the SEA Games is done, Marcial explained the league also plans to hold a mini-tournament that will kick off some time next June.
“Magkakaroon tayo ng mini-tournament and matatapos siguro within two months. Parang pre-season tournament,” added the PBA chieftain.
“Gagawin natin ‘yun para masuklian naman kasi ‘yung owners natin. Nawala na ‘nung Covid (several conferences), tapos mawawala pa ng apat na buwan.”
The mini-tournament is expected to finish by July since the country will be co-hosting the 2023 FIBA World Cup, which begins in August.
The league’s board is also open to the possibility of inviting national teams from other countries to play friendly matches with some of the PBA teams.
Marcial added he’ll be broaching the idea to the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas.
Gilas is set to host Lebanon and Jordan by February 2023 as the Philippine team plays in the sixth and final window of the 2023 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.