MANILA, Philippines – Gilas Pilipinas isn’t done with just qualifying for the 2019 FIBA World Cup.
Keeping a spot among the elite teams in the World Cup proper, the Nationals hope to roar on, make a competitive stand in the world joust and improve the country’s place in the world ranking.
The goal is to make it past the first round of play in China in September where the 32 qualified teams are divided into eight groups of four in the initial phase.
“We’re at No. 31 now (in the world ranking). What we want to see is for the Philippines to move a notch or two,” said Gilas patron Manny V. Pangilinan in a press conference after his lunch with the team where he gave the players and the coaching staff their incentive for accomplishing their mission in the just concluded FIBAWC qualifier.
Pangilinan vowed to continue throwing full support to the team, including a serious effort to gain the nod of the international basketball federation on Jordan Clarkson playing as a local for Team Philippines.
“Everybody’s personal wish is Jordan to be part of the team in the World Cup. We’ll certainly do our best to persuade FIBA to allow Jordan in the cast. Probably the best approach is to do it quietly rather than raising the voice level,” said Pangilinan.
“We’re committed to do our best to get Jordan join the team. But there’s no assurance, no guarantee that it would happen,” Pangilinan added.
But with or without Clarkson, the goal is to make it at least in the second round of the FIBA showpiece where the country’s flag is to be put alongside those of Angola, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Cote d’Ivoire, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Iran, Italy, Korea, Japan, Jordan, Lithuania, Montenegro, New Zealand, Nigeria, Poland, Puerto Rico, Russia, Senegal, Serbia, Spain, Tunisia, Turkey, the US and Venezuela.
“We won one game in the last World Cup. We win two games this time, and we have a good chance to advance,” said Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Al Panlilio.
National coach Yeng Guiao is hoping for a favorable bracketing in the draw set March 16 in Shenzhen, one of the competition’s eight host cities.
Pangilinan is excited about the possibility of Gilas being grouped with Team USA, but Guiao would rather have Team Philippines in another group where it would have a realistic chance to pull upsets.
“Eh kung ma-draw tayo with US, magpapa-picture na lang tayo,” said Guiao in half jest.
“Who wouldn’t want to be bracketed with the US? But I’d rather we advance because the objective is to improve,” said Panlilio.
Training period will depend on what the PBA board of governors allows. It’s in the agenda of the PBA board meeting Friday at the PBA office in Libis, Quezon City.
“Paguusapan pa, but on top of the mind is to form the team as early as we can. The question is when will Andray Blatche be available. The most logical is to get him early, probably as early as April. I don’t know if he can play as an import in the PBA,” said Guiao.
Blatche has expressed his desire to play in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup as part of his personal preparation for the World Cup. This is also in the agenda in Friday’s PBA board meeting.
The Gilas 14 in the FIBAWC final window could well be the top bets for the World Cup.
“I’m very happy with the 14 people I had (in Qatar and in Kazakhstan). I’m happy with Blatche and I will be happier if we also get Jordan,” said Guiao.