MVP on Gilas Pilipinas dream: ‘This is just the beginning’

MANILA, Philippines - Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas and its national team program Gilas Pilipinas will dream on, and won’t stop just with ending the country’s long wait to return to the world championship.

“This is just the beginning,” said SBP president Manny V. Pangilinan at the close of the 27th FIBA Asia Championship where Gilas Pilipinas claimed a ticket to the 17th FIBA World Cup in Spain next year.

“In the next few days, we’ll meet with the team coaching staff to talk about the program,” Pangilinan added.

Gilas coach Chot Reyes said he’s clueless on what’s next for the team.

“We disciplined our minds just thinking about up to Aug. 11. I don’t even know what will happen tomorrow or the schedule towards the world championship,” said Reyes.

“We really have to sit down with MVP (Manny V. Pangilinan) to chart our course for the future,” Reyes added.

In the next few days, members of the national team are returning to their mother ball clubs in the PBA.

The SBP and Gilas Pilipinas will also have to talk with the PBA on how to go about the Nationals’ participation in the world championship in Spain next year.

“We’ll talk when the right time comes,” said PBA commissioner Chito Salud earlier.

The bigger question, however, is what’s next after the world joust.

Does Pangilinan’s pronouncement mean he’s keeping together Reyes and his pool for a long haul?

Obviously not fully aware of the intricacies of Philippine basketball, American coach Tab Baldwin said it’s “an injustice and anomaly” if the current Gilas pool is disbanded.

“If you’re to be competitive in the world, you can’t really make compromises,” he said.

“This sort of thing has the ability to bind the community and make everybody pool together for a greater part,” he also said on something that the Filipino nation experienced in the Asian meet.

But then again, not just one person would decide on the future of the Philippine national team.

“Perhaps, it would help that the next chairman of the PBA is Mon Segismundo of Meralco,” an observer said.

Besides the elite pool, Gilas has a cadet pool that includes Matt Ganuelas, Kevin Alas, Ronald Pascual, Garvo Lanete, RR Garcia, Jake Pascual and Greg Slaughter. But these players have their PBA dream.