A BUBBLE-TYPE format will be used for the next two windows of the 2021 Fiba Asia Cup qualifiers slated on November 2020 and February 2021.
Fiba made the announcement on Friday as the international governing body for basketball sought to bring back the competitions in the middle of the continuing fight against the global COVID-19 pandemic.
Gilas Pilipinas is slotted in Group A with South Korea, Thailand, and Indonesia. It holds a 1-0 slate after its 100-70 win over Indonesia last February 23. Its first game against Thailand last February 20, was cancelled due to the virus outbreak.
The Philippines was originally slated to be on the road against South Korea on November 27 and Thailand on November 30, before hosting Indonesia on February 18 and Korea on February 21 next year.
Instead of the original home-and-away format for the qualifiers, those games will now be played in 'mini bubbles' of four or eight teams, depending on the discretion of the regional federation, in this case Fiba Asia.
Gilas, under the guidance of Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) program director Tab Baldwin, has yet to reconvene since the last window due to the health crisis, with practices only allowed for professional ballclubs.
The American-Kiwi mentor has created a young pool featuring special Gilas draftees Isaac Go, Rey Suerte, Allyn Bulanadi, and twins Matt and Mike Nieto.
Also part of the group is Thirdy Ravena, who will be with his Japanese B. League side San-En NeoPhoenix during that time, as well as late additions Jaydee Tungcab, and brothers Juan and Javi Gomez de Liano and college standouts Dwight Ramos, Kobe Paras, Dave Ildefonso, and Justine Baltazar are also part of the pool.
However, part of the initial concerns will be the November window running in conflict with the PBA bubble, putting in doubt the availability of pro players to reinforce the pool.
There's also no news on to who the SBP will tap as it's new naturalized player following Andray Blatche, although names of Justin Brownlee, Chris McCullough, and Ange Kouame have emerged as potential candidates over the past few months.
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