No PBA stars after SEABA?

Gilas may go it alone in WC Qualifier

MANILA, Philippines -  Gilas Pilipinas shoots for a berth in the Asian World Cup qualifier in the coming SEABA Championship without an assurance it would be boosted by PBA stars for the succeeding phases of the elimination run to the world joust in China in 2019.

PBA board members Alfrancis Chua of Barangay Ginebra and Alaska Milk’s Dickie Bachmann said the league has no commitment with the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas with regards to the lending of players to Gilas beyond the SEABA event slated May 12-18 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

PBA commissioner Chito Narvasa, meanwhile, said the memorandum of agreement between the pro league and the national cage body is still “a work in progress.”

Gilas Pilipinas thus faces a tough task on how to form a pool from the PBA that will be given time to prepare and compete in the window periods announced by the FIBA.

Barring any mishap in the SEABA, Gilas will be grouped with Australia, Japan and Chinese Taipei in the first round of the Asian WC qualifying tourney.

Gilas’ first assignment would be Japan on Nov. 24, then Chinese Taipei on Nov. 27, Australia on Feb. 22, Japan on Feb. 25, Taipei on June 29 and Australia on July 2.

But the PBA would be playing its all-Filipino tourney in the first two windows of the FIBA event and would be in its third conference during FIBA’s window period of competition in June and July.

“The PBA will be honest and transparent in whatever decision it makes,” said Narvasa on the sidelines of the recent PBA All-Star Week.

Chua and Bachmann insisted they’re not informed of the succeeding competitions to be played by Gilas.

The Jones Cup in July and the FIBA Asia Cup and the SEA Games in August are the other tournaments lined up for Gilas this year.

Players with contracts with Gilas are PBA rookies Mac Belo, Matthew Wright, RR Pogoy, Jio Jalalon, Kevin Ferrer, Ed Daquiaog, Mike Tolomia, Carl Bryan Cruz, Arnold Van Opstal, Russell Escoto, Von Pessumal and Alfonso Gotladera, and PBA free agent Almond Vosotros. They can be called by Gilas anytime.

The problem is the availability of the likes of June Mar Fajardo, Calvin Abueva, Terrence Romeo and Japeth Aguilar.

Apparently the other teams in the region face the same problem, including Australia and its NBA stars led by Andrew Bogut.

SBP president Al Panlilio, also the Meralco Bolts’ representative in the PBA board, is likely to raise the issue in the next PBA board meeting.