SUMMARY
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The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) is going all-out in its Gilas Pilipinas player development program as it is set to field all-cadet rosters for the 2020 FIBA Asia Cup final qualifying window and the Tokyo Olympics Qualifying Tournament (OQT).
PBA players have been ruled out from joining the national team for now as the new pro league season is set to tip off on April 11.
“If you want to look at it, and start training this month, and the PBA will start the season in April going through July 4, which is the last day of the OQT, it would completely just kill the calendar of the PBA,” said SBP president Al Panlilio in a PBA press conference.
“We’re trying to put up a plan of an entirely non-PBA team, using the 5 we drafted last year, and the 4 we will draft this year,” he continued.
Currently, the SBP has Isaac Go, Rey Suerte, Allyn Bulanadi, and brothers Matt and Mike Nieto as full-time players, with Fil-Aussie Jordan Heading, Tzaddy Rangel, Jaydee Tungcab, and Will Navarro soon joining after the March 14 PBA special draft.
They will then be supported with more young cadets, and possibly newly naturalized Filipino Ange Kouame to complete a 20- to 25-man pool.
As of now, Gilas is just a win away from qualifying for the 2020 FIBA Asia Cup. However, a much taller task awaits the national team on the Olympic stage as they are grouped with the Dominican Republic and powerhouse Serbia in Group A of the OQT. – Rappler.com
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