The PBA will continue lending a hand to Gilas Pilipinas as the Board of Governors unanimously approved head coach Chot Reyes’ request to tap the services of PBA players for the November window of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.
PBA commissioner Willie Marcial bared the development, revealing that the board has allowed Reyes to pick two to three teams where he can choose his players from to comprise the Gilas lineup for the away games against Saudi Arabia and Jordan.
“Tutulong ang PBA pero hindi tayo titigil so baka mamili si coach Chot within two to three teams tapos dun siya mamimili tapos di ko alam kung ano pa idadagdag niya,” said Marcial, who presented the idea to the board during its meeting on Thursday.
“Wala pa naman lineup si coach Chot pero binibigyan natin sila na mamili between two to three teams. Baka kumuha din sa mga international players natin,” he added.
The move should come as a welcome development for Reyes and Gilas which, after parading a stacked lineup during the fourth window of the qualifiers with NBA star Jordan Clarkson and Adelaide big man Kai Sotto in the fold, was left without a team for the fifth window.
The PBA, NCAA and UAAP, as well as B.League and Korean Basketball League will be in the middle of their seasons by November.
Marcial added Reyes can also tap the two Philippine Cup finalists San Miguel Beer and TNT for the window and get his hands on talents like June Mar Fajardo, Marcio Lassiter, CJ Perez, Jayson Castro and RR Pogoy. The Beermen and the Tropang Giga, however, will also play in the inaugural season of the East Asia Super League.
“Kailangan tulungan so depende so yun yung parang mga balakid o hurdle na mahihirapan pero kung iyon kailangan edi mag aadjust tayo schedule,” said the league chieftain.
Aside from lending players, the PBA also will be helping Gilas, albeit in a different capacity when Marcial attends the Senate Committee on Sports starts its inquiry on how it can help the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas in the World Cup hosting next year as well as the formation the best team possible for Gilas for global showpiece.