SBP to draft 5 or 6 players for Gilas pool

MANILA, Philippines — The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) wants five or six players from the talent-laden PBA Rookie Draft for inclusion to the Gilas Pilipinas program.

SBP president Al Panlilio said their picks in the special Gilas round in the March 14 proceedings will join the draftees of the previous year in full-time training with the national pool.

“The coaches have already reviewed the list (of draft applicants) and we’re looking at five to six players,” Panlilio said during yesterday’s online PSA Forum.

“We’re just finalizing the list before we submit it to the PBA,” he said.

A record 97 applicants, including 31 Fil-Ams, applied for the deepest draft exercise ever. Per agreement with the PBA, Gilas will get access to its choice of players.

Calvin Oftana, an MVP awardee in the NCAA and currently part of the 20-man pool training for the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers, and fellow Gilas cadet Jaydee Tungcab lead the SBP prospects.

Last year, Isaac Go, Rey Suerte, Matt Nieto, Allyn Bulanadi and Mike Nieto were picked in the special Gilas round to make up the core of the young Philippine quintet.

“Our objective is development and for tournaments wherein we can send a team without having to bother the PBA,” said Panlilio.

“We’ll have 10 to 12 (PBA draftees) and we can add collegiate players like Dwight Ramos so we have a team that can practice and also compete,” he added.

The Gilas cadets have done that during the second window of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers last November. The young guns swept their two assignments against Thailand to put the Philippines atop the standings in Group A with a 3-0 card.