PBA commissioner Willie Marcial revealed that the league will not be able to lend its players to Gilas Pilipinas in the potential resumption of the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers in November. 

Marcial said the PBA would focus on finishing the bubble conference eliminations first, given the uncertainty of the FIBA tournament resumption. 

“Nakausap namin si [SBP prseident] Al Panlilio na November, hindi pa niya malaman [ang details] tapos ngayon October na, hindi pa nila alam kung saan, kung papaano, so sabi nga namin ongoing [issue] iyan, so kung ongoing iyan, hindi [makakahiram] ng players sa PBA,” said Marcial in the weekly, Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) forum on Tuesday, October 13.

(We spoke to SBP president Al Panlilio about the November qualifiers and he’s still uncertain about the details of the tournament. It’s already October and FIBA hasn’t figured out where and how it is going to resume the tournament. We said that it’s an ongoing issue, so if it’s still ongoing, the PBA won’t be able to lend players to Gilas.) 

The 2020 PBA Philippine Cup elimination round is scheduled to end on November 11, while the Philippines is slated to face Korea on November 27. 

Marcial brought up the possibility of offering players from eliminated teams, but the PBA commissioner is more certain that the league will support Gilas Pilipinas in the February 2021 window. 

The league commissioner also promised to help the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) reach out to the Joint Administrative Order (JAO) group, composed of representatives from the Department of Health, Philippine Sports Commission and Games and Amusements Board, in order for amateur Gilas Pilipinas team members to start training. 

The national basketball federation is also looking to tap the 2019 PBA Draft’s top 5 picks Isaac Go, Rey Suerte, Allyn Bulanadi, Matt and Mike Nieto, as they are being loaned to Gilas Pilipinas for the 2023 FIBA World Cup. 

“Alam ko humihingi na sila ng tulong sa Task Force para makapag-practice ‘yung mga players and ating mga 5, sina Isaac Go, kasama rin ‘yung mga amateurs pero pagkaintindi ko, papayagan iyan,” assured Marcial. 

“Basta may competition ahead of time na sabihin niyo sa JAO, papayagan iyan pero tutulungan natin para makapagpractice na sila.” 

(I know that SBP is asking for help to lobby the issue to the Task Force, so that the players can start practicing. These include our top 5 picks like Isaac Go and other amateurs. I know that they’ll allow it. As long as there’s a competition and they will tell the JAO ahead of time, they will allow it. The PBA will help them in order for them to start practicing.) 

Though committed to Gilas Pilipinas, Thirdy Ravena had to leave for Japan this Thursday for his professional basketball debut with the San-en NeoPhoenix in the delayed Japan B. League as an Asian import. 

The former Ateneo star was a key player in Gilas’ first window last February as he torched Indonesia 23 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 blocks. – Rappler.com