
The PBA Board of Governors approved the inclusion of TNT players for the Gilas Pilipinas’ campaign in the coming window of the 2023 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers later this month.
Under the agreement finalized in a special board meeting Friday, Feb. 4, the PBA will allow TNT to play as many games as possible once the Governors’ Cup resumes on Feb. 11 before focusing on Gilas for the FIBA window slated Feb. 24 to 27 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Coach Chot Reyes, who was brought back by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas in lieu of Tab Baldwin, will also have the remaining players from the Gilas pool and some overseas-based players for the games against New Zealand, South Korea and India.
SBP president Al Panlilio bared that naturalized player Ange Kouame, Will Navarro, Tzaddy Rangel, Jaydee Tungcab and Juan Gomez de Liano have joined the TNT/Gilas training bubble at Malarayat in Lipa, Batangas.
Dwight Ramos, who plays for the Toyama Grouses in Japan’s B.League, was due to arrive last night to also take part in the qualifiers.
PBA chairman Ricky Vargas, who joined commissioner Willie Marcial and Panlilio in a virtual press conference following the meeting, said the board also discussed the PBA’s involvement for the duration of the qualifiers and the World Cup which the Philippines will co-host along with Japan and Indonesia next year.
The involvement of TNT players for the qualifiers came after Reyes was tasked to handle the national squad for the fourth time replacing Baldwin, who the SBP said stepped down to focus on his UAAP duties with Ateneo.
Reyes broached the idea of bringing in some of his Tropang Giga players for the window, but the number of who he’ll pick will be determined soon.
With the PBA approval, TNT will be a busy squad as the league is set to return after a month-long absence due to the COVID-19 surge.
Marcial said the league will play at the Big Dome before shifting to the Ynares Center in Antipolo City for the duration of the qualifiers.