The PBA has floated the idea of having Gilas Pilipinas as a guest team in the upcoming Philippine Cup.

PBA commissioner Willie Marcial on Monday, February 8, said the league wants to help the national team gear up for its future tournaments by playing against the 12 PBA teams.

“We said that if they do not have practices or training, or if they are not joining any leagues, they can join our first conference this season,” Marcial told Rappler in Filipino after their board meeting.

“The PBA wants to help Gilas Pilipinas gain experience through playing.”

If the plan pushes through, the national team would be represented by cadets in the All-Filipino conference.

Gilas Pilipinas picked 5 players – Isaac Go, Matt Nieto, Mike Nieto, Rey Suerte, and Allyn Bulanadi – in the previous PBA draft and intends to get 3 to 5 players in the next draft.

Marcial said the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas will submit the list of the players it is eyeing within the week.

Gilas Pilipinas can also compete for the Philippine Cup championship.

The only iteration of the national team that won a PBA title was Northern Cement when it swept Manila Beer to rule the 1985 Reinforced Conference.

Marcial noted the All-Filipino conference will have ended by the time Gilas Pilipinas’ next big tournament – the FIBA Asia Cup in August – kicks off.

The PBA aims to open its 46th season in April, and the Philippine Cup is slated to run for 3 to 4 months.

But first, the national team needs to secure its Asia Cup berth by winning at least 1 of its last 3 games in the third and final window of the qualifiers in Doha, Qatar, this February. – Rappler.com