Gilas starts buildup for FIBA Rio qualifier

Gilas Pilipinas begins in earnest its preparation for the FIBA Olympic qualifying tournament today at the Meralco gym in Pasig even as the Nationals still await the arrival of naturalized player Andray Blatche who’s taking care of his ailing mother back home in the US.

From their once-a-week training that was shelved before the PBA Commissioner’s Cup playoffs, the Nationals proceed to their regular grind with a month and a half to go to the Manila OQT set July 5-10 at the MOA Arena, which is the last door Team Phl may take to make the Rio Olympics in August.

Blatche will join the Nationals in training by the last week of the month.

Others exempted from the Gilas workout are national hopefuls still playing in the Commissioner’s Cup finals between Rain or Shine and Alaska Milk – Paul Lee, Jeff Chan, Gabe Norwood and Calvin Abueva.

Day One of Gilas training is at 1 p.m. with all other aspirants expected to be present even if they’re recovering from injuries like JuneMar Fajardo and Marcio Lassiter.

“They will be there to join the practice or observe on the sidelines,” said Gilas team manager Butch Antonio.

Greg Slaughter, Japeth Aguilar, LA Tenorio, Jayson Castro, Matt Ganuelas-Rosser, Troy Rosario, Ryan Reyes, Ranidel de Ocampo, Marc Pingris, Ian Sangalang and Terrence Romeo are other PBA players in the fold.

Amateurs Kiefer Ravena, Kevin Ferrer, Mac Belo and Bobby Ray Parks are part of the pool whose training will include a boot camp in Karpenissi, Greece from June 11-19 and a friendly tournament with Italy, Canada and China in Bologna on June 25-26.

Before going through their European expedition, Gilas Pilipinas takes on Iran in a pair of tune-up matches on June 7-8 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“Only the second one is open to the public. They requested a closed-door match for the first one,” said Antonio.

Iran, a former three-time FIBA Asia champion, is also competing in a FIBA Olympic qualifying tournament in July over in Turin, Italy.

The Iranians’ eight-year reign as Asian champs came to an end in the Changsha Asian meet where they bowed to the Filipinos during the preliminaries and to the Chinese in the semifinals.

Gilas coach Tab Baldwin and members of his coaching staff met yesterday to firm up training details.

The Philippines last played in the Olympics in Munich in 1972 with a team bannered by Bogs Adornado, Robert Jaworski and Jimmy Mariano.