Gilas starts Olympic quest vs Myanmar in SEABA meet

Games today (Smart Araneta Coliseum)

3 p.m. – Indonesia vs Singapore

5 p.m. – Malaysia vs Thailand

7 p.m. – Myanmar vs Philippines

MANILA, Philippines - Gilas Pilipinas brings in its toughest, strongest assembly to ensure victory over regional rivals it could virtually beat 24/7 in the SEABA Championship unfolding today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

It’s only a regional competition but given a new perspective as the opener of the long-drawn qualifying round for a return trip to the Olympics in 2020.

With a cast of the best formed to kick off its quest for berth in the Tokyo Games, Gilas appeared to be gearing up for a shattering overkill over rivals it has decisively beaten in the past.

But better an overkill to ensure passage in the Fiba qualifier than be sorry before Filipino fans expecting such a dominant outing.

“The importance of winning the SEABA Championship prompted us to field the best, strongest team possible. That’s the guiding principle in putting this team together,” said Gilas coach Chot Reyes.

“We scouted the opposition. Coach Jong (Uichico), coach Josh (Reyes) and coach Jimmy (Alapag) are very familiar with the other teams. And based on that, we put together the team that would give us the best chance to win this championship,” Reyes added.

Gilas Pilipinas opens its bid against unfancied Myanmar in the main game of a triplebill at 7 p.m.

Indonesia takes on Singapore at 3 p.m. while Malaysia and Thailand tangle at 5 p.m.

The SEABA Championship is a lowly Asian sub-zonal tourney that has been a virtual playground among the country’s finest amateur players.

Reyes, however, wants to ensure victory with the 2017 SEABA meet the lone route Gilas can take to make the FIBA Asia qualifying tourney for the 2019 World Cup.

Reyes thus called in naturalized Andray Blatche and PBA stars June Mar Fajardo, Japeth Aguilar, Raymond Almazan, Troy Rosario, Calvin Abueva, Allein Maliksi, Matthew Wright, Jayson Castro, Terrence Romeo, RR Pogoy and Jio Jalalon to form the “SEABA 12.”

“In basketball, there’s what we call ‘disgrasya (mishap).’ We do everything to  avoid falling into that,” said Gilas team manager Butch Antonio.

Reyes said he also had the future in mind in assembling this lineup.

“As we focus all our energy in the tournament at hand, we want to make sure the big picture is on our minds. All our players are committed to the goal to get to the Olympics in 2020,” Reyes said.

“You would notice that we have no player that is over 30. The guiding number is 29. Some of them are turning 30 sometime this year. But when we chose them, the maximum age was 29, the reason being was that we’re preparing for the Olympics in 2020,” Reyes pointed out.

“I feel that we have players in this team that given the chance to be together, can be at their peak form at the World Cup in 2019,” Reyes added. “We have to be the best Asian team in the world championship in 2019. If we achieve that, we’ll play in the Olympics in 2020.”

It’s actually not the first time that the Philippines is sending a pro selection in SEABA.

While chasing a berth in the 2007 Tokushima Asian meet, Reyes brought in Asi Taulava, Danny Seigle, Kerby Raymundo, Mick Pennisi, Rico Villanueva, Ranidel de Ocampo, Mark Caguioa, Dondon Hontiveros, KG Canaleta, Renren Ritualo, Jimmy Alapag and Jayjay Helterbrand in the 2007 SEABA in Ratchaburi, Thailand.

In 2009 in Medan, coach Yeng Guiao went to the SEABA competition with Taulava, Raymundo, De Ocampo, Pennisi, Helterbrand, Cyrus Baguio, James Yap, Willie Miller, Arwind Santos, Jared Dillinger, Gabe Norwood and Ryan Reyes.

Reyes is aching to make the grade for the Tokyo Olympics. “I’m a firm believer that when you dream, you dream big, you aim high and you reach for the stars,” he said.