FOR the nth time, Gilas Pilipinas coach Tab Baldwin insisted preparation– long enough and not at the last minute– will be among the keys in the team’s campaign in the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
“As for their long-term development through getting exposed to improved competition, it’s a great thing for them as improved basketball players,” Baldwin was quoted as saying by online sports website Spin.ph.
“But how much the national team program can benefit is a major question and one that, if we would look at history, is not the key. Getting players at the last minute is not the key to success,” he added.
The burning question on whether the nationals can still tap players who are set to bring their acts overseas such as Kai Sotto (Adelaide), Thirdy Ravena (San-En NeoPhoenix), and brothers Juan (Earthfriends Tokyo Z) and Javi Gomez de Liaño (Ibaraki Robots) remains as a big concern.
Gilas prized guard Dwight Ramos also turned pro last Friday and will play for Toyoma in the Japan B.League.
The Gilas program also under Baldwin has nine players under contract, all of whom were picked in the special Gilas draft in 2019 and early this year, namely, Isaac Go, Rey Suerte, Matt and Mike Nieto, Allyn Bulanadi, Jordan Heading, William Navarro, Jaydee Tungcab, and Tzaddy Rangel.
Other players from the collegiate ranks are Justine Baltazar and naturalized player Ange Kouame.
The American-New Zealander strategist of reigning three-time UAAP champion Ateneo said it will be a challenge and sacrifices must be made to get Gilas ready for the world hoops spectacle two years from now.
“So, it’s the challenge that faces the SBP and our entire basketball landscape,” he said.
“To come to grips with how much we want the national team program to be the best it can be and what sacrifices had to be made to achieve that.”
The first window of the Asian qualifiers for the 2023 FIBA World Cup the Philippines is co-hosting with Japan and Indonesia will be in November this year with a home-and-away format anew.
