Gilas Pilipinas will be embarking on a hectic several weeks with the 2027 Fiba World Cup Asian Qualifiers and the Asian Games coming up.
The Nationals may be facing a challenging schedule, but Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) Executive Director Erika Dy sees it differently.
‘It’s a good development for us that the Asian Games will happen almost immediately after the [Fiba] windows,’ she said.
‘The men’s basketball games will start earlier than the opening ceremonies so we’ll play from the 10th to the 20th, straight. They’ll be together for a month or a half, which will be a good preparation heading into the window in November.’
It also helps Gilas’ cause that the PBA is more than willing to help out ease the rigorous schedule.
Starting August 14, the PBA’s Governors’ Cup will go on a hiatus to make way for the national team’s preparations.
That break gives Gilas enough time before its games against Jordan and Iran on August 28 and 30, respectively, at Mall of Asia Arena.
After that, the Philippines will fly to South Korea on September 3 for a couple of scrimmages against the South Korean national team before opening its Asiad campaign in Nagoya, Japan, on September 10.
Whether or not the same guys will compete in the qualifiers and the Asian Games is up in the air.
With eligibility rules in the qualifiers and Asiad different from one another, anything can happen as far as Gilas’ roster is concerned, but the core will stay intact, said Dy.
‘There might be a few changes, but the core of the team should be intact,’ she said. ‘Those who weren’t eligible in Fiba competition as a local, we can consider them to play for the Asian Games.’
Gilas will look to regain its winning ways in the second round of the qualifiers after dropping its both games against New Zealand and Australia in the third window earlier this month.