SBP President Panlilio wants combination of pros, cadets for Gilas future

MANILA, Philippines — Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) President Al Panlilio is eyeing a balanced combination of pro players and young talents in Gilas Pilipinas' program ahead of the 2023 FIBA World Cup.

Rather than rely on veteran professional players or promising young guns individually, Panlilio believes that the key is to incorporate key players from both ends.

"We still believe in the program that we set up. Is it a purely young team or a purely PBA team? I don't think it is. It has to be a combination," Panlilio told media during PLDT's contract signing with the Philippine National Volleyball Federation. Panlilio is the CEO of PLDT.

"We're still pushing for the development of the young players, but if you just rely on the young players alone naman, hindi rin naman kaya," he added.

For the upcoming 31st Southeast Asian Games, though, the SBP will be leaning more on the veteran cagers as collegiate leagues like the UAAP and the NCAA also making a return thus forcing some of the younger cagers out of reach from the national team.

So Panlilio and SBP, along with Gilas Pilipinas head coach Chot Reyes, will have to make do with a PBA-laden pool for the biennial meet.

Knowing that the PBA pros also had to put aside some other commitments to join the national team, Panlilio expressed his gratitude to Asia's oldest professional hoops league.

"I appreciate the help that the PBA has offered. They basically said kung sino kailangan niyo, you tell us and we will help you," he said.