GILAS Pilipinas will start its build-up for the February window of the Fiba Basketball World Cup Asian qualifiers next week.
Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) executive director and spokesperson Sonny Barrios said Gilas will start practice on Monday as head coach Chot Reyes and his staff prepare the team for the sixth and final window of the qualifiers.
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The pool has yet to be announced but Justin Brownlee is expected to be part of the team after the bill granting Filipino citizenship was signed into law by President Marcos Jr.
Brownlee is in the process of fixing his papers including his passport that would have to be presented to Fiba for him to play.
Adamson star guard Jerom Lastimosa and Schonny Winston of La Salle are also expected to be named to the pool along with players from PBA teams Barangay Ginebra, San Miguel, and TNT.
The three teams do not have scheduled PBA Governors' Cup games from February 20 to March 1. Gilas will be playing at the Philippine Arena as it faces Lebanon on February 24 and Jordan on February 27.
Sources said a couple of players outside the three teams are also being considered by Reyes.
Being the host, Gilas Pilipinas is already assured of a place in the World Cup, but would like to win in front of its home fans.
Lebanon is on top of Group E with a 7-1 win-loss record, while Jordan remains in the bubble being at fourth place with 4-4, two games ahead of Saudi Arabia. Three teams from each of the two groups will clinch a World Cup berth.
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