Team Gilas begins daily grind for SEABA caging

MANILA, Philippines - Gilas Pilipinas is covering all bases in preparation for the SEABA Championship next month, aware of its importance as the qualifying tourney for the succeeding FIBA Asia Cup in Beirut in August.

Coach Chot Reyes has started their daily grind in training and has sent assistant coaches Jong Uichico, Josh Reyes and Jimmy Alapag overseas to scout the opposition for the SEABA joust set May 12-18 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Meanwhile, Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Al Panlilio urged Gilas to win the SEABA Championship “no ifs and buts,” stressing the country wants Team Phl to figure in a chase for a berth in the 2019 World Championship in China and in the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

“This is the start of a long journey. SEABA is very critical part as we look forward to go to the Olympics in 2020. We have to win SEABA for sure,” said Panlilio during his contract-signing session with Holiday Inn Galleria officials, designating the latter as the official hotel of SEABA officials and participants.

“We’re looking way ahead and so we’re looking forward to do well in SEABA. We look to participate in FIBA Asia and we also want to win the SEA Games. The SBP is extending full support to the program,” Panlilio also said.

Gilas’ daily grind started Monday and will continue tonight before they take a breather in observance of the Lenten season.

They enter the crucial part of their SEABA buildup next week, the last days before Reyes and his staff decide on their Final 12 for the FIBA sub-zone tourney where Gilas will be up against Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Myanmar and Vietnam.

“The deadline for submission of the Final 12 is April 28 midway through the PBA All-Stars. We don’t have the Final 12 now. 

Our minds are open. We’re evaluating all practices, we’ll evaluate the All-Stars, we’ll evaluate other things, the intangibles. Who are always present in practice? That’s part of the evaluation,” said Reyes. “After the evaluation, we’ll determine the final lineup on the 28th.”            

It can be expected, though, that the team will be bannered by June Mar Fajardo, Jason Castro, Terrence Romeo, Calvin Abueva, Japeth Aguilar and naturalized player Andray Blatche.

Gilas team manager Butch Antonio said they will fly in Blatche before the end of this month.

Blatche has just led the Xinjiang team to the CBA Championship and is now on vacation in the US.

Reyes said they couldn’t take their SEABA rivals lightly.

“Thailand is tough. Indonesia is tough. And we can’t discount Malaysia and Singapore. All of them have two to three naturalized players to choose from. All of them have been practicing for three to five months already,” said Reyes.

But Gilas is keenly watching the progress of all their rivals.

“We have an idea. All of them are scouted because we have no room for error,” said Reyes.