Gilas moves camp closer to WCup site

MANILA, Philippines - After spending 11 days in Miami, Gilas will now set up camp in the Spanish town of Vitoria, a three-hour car ride from Madrid, where the Philippine national team is booked to play a series of tune-up games leading to the FIBA World Cup starting on Aug. 30.

Arranging the Vitoria schedule for Gilas is Spanish player agent Igor Crespo who represents over 20 high-profile basketball stars in European leagues. Gilas will stay at the Jardines de Uleta Suites hotel. Vitoria is a sports hub and triathlon haven with three basketball arenas, two private and two public sports clubs and 15 multi-sport centers. On a per capita basis, the city must enjoy the highest ratio of sports facility to local resident in the country with a population of 250,000. The US team trained in Vitoria for the World Swimming Championships last year.

Gilas team manager Aboy Castro said the group will arrive in Madrid today then travel to Vitoria. A practice game with Angola may be scuttled as the African national team has yet to secure visas. Castro said a tune-up with Canada is being arranged for Friday in Lugo, a city in northeastern Spain. Twice-a-day practices with weight training in between await the squad in Vitoria.

Gilas will participate in a pocket tournament in Antibes, France, on Aug. 15-17. Antibes is located on the Mediterranean coast and Nice is where the nearest international airport is located about 18 kilometers away. The competition will be held at the 5,500-seat Azur Arena. Confirmed to play are Australia, Turkey, France and the Philippines. Invitations to play in the tournament were sent out by Patrick Beesley, director of the French national team and general director of the French Basketball Federation. The invitations were addressed to SBP president Manny V. Pangilinan, Australia president Kristina Keneally and Turkey president Turgay Demirel.

Castro said Gilas is also set to play in another pocket tournament in San Sebastian, about a two-hour drive from Vitoria, and more practice games in Guadalajara, about 37 miles northeast of Madrid. Gilas will travel to the different Spanish cities by coach or train. The plan is to arrive in Seville two days before the FIBA World Cup hostilities begin. Gilas will be billeted at the 295-room Barcelo Renacimiento Hotel in Seville where the other Group B teams Croatia, Greece, Argentina, Puerto Rico and Senegal are also staying.

The Barcelo Renacimiento Hotel will split the six teams in two different wings. The Philippines will likely be assigned in the same wing as Argentina. Last February, Reyes and Castro, accompanied by logistics head Andrew Teh, visited the hotel and inspected the facilities. Reyes even chose his room No. 2335 which if you add up the numbers, totals lucky 13.

In Miami, Gilas played two practice games. A plan to engage the University of Miami varsity, whose coach Jim Larranaga piloted George Mason University to the NCAA Final Four in 2006 with Gabe Norwood, was scratched because of strict NCAA rules regarding offseason games. Gilas beat the pro-am Elev8 squad twice, 95-74 and 93-84. Castro said naturalized player Andray Blatche was impressive in both contests.

Last Friday, Reyes celebrated his 51st birthday and was presented two cakes. It was the fifth of the last nine birthdays that Reyes was away from home and family due to national team duties. “Part of the sacrifice,” said Reyes in a text message. Why two cakes? Someone said it’s because two wins in the group stage will bring Gilas to the knockout round of 16 in Madrid at the World Cup.

The day before his birthday, Reyes was first in line to shoot from midcourt in a fun contest where visiting SBP executive director Sonny Barrios put up a pot of $100 later raised to $200 and finally to $210 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel court.

“It was a break during practice and I told Chot let’s have some fun,” said Barrios. “At first, I put up $100 in the pot then I increased it to $200. Everyone got a chance to hit a halfcourt shot, no practice, only one attempt. Chot was first and made it. Andray took his turn after several players missed and he made it, too. Later, Paul Lee became the third player to do it. To divide the pot evenly, I raised it to $210 so the three got $70 each.”

Reyes said it wasn’t the first halfcourt contest in the Miami camp. “I put up $100 for the first one on Day 2 of our camp and coach Tab won it,” he said. “We do that every now and then for fun. This was a special one since ED (executive director) Sonny put up the $210 prize. It’s all good because it’s fun and the players really look forward to it. Whoever wins gets to treat the team to pizza.”

Castro said everyone joined in the last contest except Baldwin, assistant coach Joseph Uichico and himself. “Jong, Chot and I normally don’t join,” said Castro. “Chot and I are usually the sponsors. But Chot joined this time around. It was his birthday, Manila time, and he took the first shot and made it. Tab didn’t join because by then, three people had made their shots. If he joined and made it, Tab said they would take home less each, splitting the pot evenly. Besides, Tab won the first contest.”