AFTER the FIBA World Cup and the Asian Games, the PBA will still lend a big hand to Gilas Pilipinas.
Pro league chief Willie Marcial said the board of governors will continue to support the Philippine five especially if it qualifies for the Paris Olympic Games next year.
“Sa palagay ko, papayag ang board dahil sinuportahan na natin ang World Cup,” Marcial said in the recent Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at the conference hall of the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.
The Nationals need to finish at least in the top two at the end of the group stage of the world cage spectacle from Aug. 25 to Sept. 10 to advance to the next round and fan its hopes of becoming the best placed Asian squad to directly qualify for the Paris Olympics next year.
The Philippines last saw action in the Games in 1972 in Munich behind a team that featured the likes of Freddie Webb, Danny Florencio, Bogs Adornado and Jimmy Mariano.
Marcial also said there will be no special Gilas draft in the annual rookie proceedings on Sept. 17 at the Ayala Malls Market! Market! in Taguig.
“As of now, alam ko wala na iyong Gilas draft,” Marcial said in the public sports program backed by San Miguel Corp., Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Milo, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.
“Pero depende rin sa pag-uusapan namin ni coach Chot (Reyes). Pero as of now, wala pang Gilas draft.”
The 48th season of Asia’s first play for pay league will get going on Oct. 15 with the Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
A number of games are being scheduled in Hong Kong, while out-of-town games will be incorporated anew as part of the league’s official games following its successful staging of the preseason On Tour, where the PBA played in Tiaong, Quezon, Baliwag, Bulacan, Batangas City, and Dumaguete City.
Before the torrney, the league will also hold its All-Star weekend in Bacolod City.
