MANILA, Philippines – The PBA and the SBP need to work on a new agreement for the next phases of the FIBA Olympic qualifiers as Gilas players will do a double job in serving their mother ball clubs and the national team in preparation for the second window of the Olympics eliminators set February 22-25.
© Philstar.com Chot Reyes presides over Gilas Pilipinas' practice in this file photo.
June Mar Fajardo, Japeth Aguilar, Jason Castro and their teammates are still required to play for their PBA teams in the run-up to their next two games in the Olympic qualifiers versus Australia in Melbourne on February 22 and against Japan at the MOA Arena on February 25.
The Gilas pool members will be completely free from their mother teams only upon their departure on February 19.
Coach Chot Reyes and his pool started their daily grind Monday, but it's doubtful if they get to practice with a full roster until their arrival in Melbourne.
"We'll miss in practice at least seven players during a PBA game day," said a Gilas coaching staff member.
PBA commissioner Willie Marcial confirmed to The STAR the setup in training.
Marcial said the board may make the adjustments for the next window slated June 28 to July 2. The PBA top honcho and SBP executive director Sonny Barrios had their initial meeting Monday.
"A possibility is the PBA not scheduling games for next FIBA window so as not to have a conflict with the FIBA games," said Marcial.
Needless to say, Gilas is cramming in its buildup for its first match with Australia and a second-round duel with Japan.
To avoid extra distractions, the Gilas coach ordered closed-door training starting Monday.
"Hoping for everyone's understanding," he said.
One good development was the early arrival of naturalized player Andray Blatche.
Blatche looked well in shape and ready to make good on his vow to make up for a lackluster showing the last time as he appeared at the Big Dome Sunday night.
The Gilas naturalized player apologized to his teammates for his poor showing in the Philippines' 90-83 win over Chinese Taipei in the first window of the FIBA Asia Olympic qualifier last November. He made only two of nine field-goal tries then, missing all five attempts from the arc.
He said he's excited with their matchup with Australia on February 22 in Melbourne where the Nationals and the Boomers clash in a duel of joint leaders in Group B play.
"We have to work hard as a team, use our strengths, our quickness, our outside shooting. I feel we have a good chance. I'm super excited," said Blatche.
He's thankful to his Chinese league ball club, Xinjiang, for allowing him to fly to Manila a little earlier.
"I try to come here, get used to the ball. My team allowed it. It's a different ball so I try to shoot with that ball again," he said.
The 6-foot-11 behemoth had his shoot-around session by himself at the Meralco Gym Saturday.