Tough grind ahead for Gilas

MANILA, Philippines — Gilas head coach Chot Reyes is calling for the national pool’s first practice at the Meralco gym tonight and it will kick off a tough grind to prepare for the FIBA World Cup on Aug. 25-Sept. 10. The pool is scheduled to set up camp at the Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba, Laguna on June 12-16 before leaving for Estonia on June 22 for friendlies. Gilas team manager Butch Antonio said no tune-up games will be played at Inspire as the priority is to get familiar with each other and the system. He didn’t rule out twice-a-day sessions to fast-track the training program.

From Estonia, the pool will travel to Lithuania for more friendlies. Antonio is in the process of finalizing the teams to play against with at least four games on tap and up to five or six to fill the calendar. National squads of Estonia, Latvia and Finland and club teams from Lithuania are being lined up for Gilas. Finland is bracketed with Germany, Australia and Japan in Group E for the first round of the World Cup in Okinawa while Latvia is in Group H with Canada, Lebanon and France to play in Jakarta. Expected to suit up for Finland is Utah Jazz’ seven-foot forward Lauri Markkanen, the NBA’s Most Improved Player this season. Latvia will be bannered by the Washington Wizards’ 7-3 center Kristaps Porzingis.

After the 16-day European trip, the pool will return to Manila on July 10 and continue to train. Then, it leaves for China, possibly on July 31, to play in a pocket tournament with Iran, Lebanon and Senegal on Aug. 2-6. When the pool comes back to Manila from China, friendlies will be arranged with teams that arrive early for the World Cup.

Antonio said a planned US trip won’t push through as collegiate and pro teams aren’t available to play. The previous plan was to set up camp near Jordan Clarkson’s base. Clarkson is committed to spend six weeks with Gilas, including playing days during the World Cup. Fil-Nigerian AJ Edu, 23, arrived here last week to train with the pool. The 6-10 center, fully recovered from ACL surgeries on both knees, played 35 games as a University of Toledo senior this past season and spent a week training in Brisbane with agent Cam Bairstow, a former Australian national player who saw action for the Chicago Bulls in 2014-16, before flying in.