Revival of Gilas cadet program bared: Panlilio to succeed MVP as SBP head

MANILA, Philippines – Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) vice-president Al Panlilio will take over the post of Manny V. Pangilinan as SBP president in major developments in the basketball body that include the revival of the Gilas cadet program aimed at gaining berths in the 2019 World Championship and the 2020 Olympics.

“That’s MVP’s wish to have Al as his successor. If the SBP presidency goes to another person, they may not get the kind of support MVP is giving to the SBP now,” said a reliable source.

The same source said Panlilio is now assured of the number for the position to be vacated by Pangilinan in the SBP board election after the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament at the MOA Arena from July 5-10.

Panlilio is currently senior vice president at Meralco and also the chief executive officer of the organizing committee for the FIBA OQT.

Pangilinan is serving as SBP president on holdover capacity since the SBP board has postponed its January election so as not to hinder preparation for the association’s hosting of the Olympic qualifier.

By the next board meeting, 13 new faces will sit on the board with 12 holdovers that will include PBA representatives Robert Non and Chito Narvasa, and PBA D-League’s Erick Arejola.

From the new board of trustees will come the new SBP president. Under the SBP by-laws, Pangilinan is no longer qualified to run for another term.

 With Pangilinan’s support, the SBP is looking at pushing through with long-term plans, including the Gilas cadet revival.

The national cage body is done identifying the players to be put in the program patterned after the original Gilas setup under coach Rajko Toroman.

“We have at least 14 names for the Gilas cadets. We’ve spoken to all of them and they have consented. So we’re finalizing the documentation for them,” said Pangilinan in an interview by InterAksyon.com.

Pangilinan mentioned Mac Belo, Roger Pogoy, Chris Tolomia, Russel Escoto, Von Pessumal and Jiovani Jalalon, among the core players of Team Phl that ruled  the recently concluded SEABA Stankovic Cup in Bangkok, Thailand.

Kiefer Ravena, who’s long been a Gilas cadet and now in the current Gilas training pool for the coming FIBA OQT, has agreed to defer entry to the PBA to continue serving duty to the national team.

Even with the coming PBA draft surely to be affected, this SBP program is likely to sit well with the PBA board as PBA officials themselves have been pushing for the revival of a national cadet program.

“We have no choice but to go that route because of the next FIBA format. There are so many tournaments to be played between 2017 and 2019, and these will be very disruptive, very harmful to the PBA,” said an SBP official.

“In the end, the PBA will also benefit from this. They will get quality players at the end of the program. That’s what happened on the entry to the pros of Greg Slaughter, Marcio Lassiter, Mark Barroca, Chris Tiu, Jvee Casio, Chris Lutz and their group,” the same SBP official added.