COMING off a grueling PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals, Barangay Ginebra players rejoin Gilas Pilipinas in practice on the eve of the national team's departure for its training camp in Australia.
Naturalized player Justin Brownlee, Troy Rosario, and RJ Abarrientos reconnect with their national teammates for the first time on Monday after taking a well-deserved rest following an exhausting best-of-seven title series between the Kings and the TNT Tropang 5G that went the full route.
READ Scottie ruled out of next Gilas qualifiers; Juan GdL called up
The Kings won the championship, 88-76, to end a three-year title drought.
“Some of the Ginebra guys took a break and will be there on Monday. We’ll have our camp on the 23rd,” as per Gilas coach Tim Cone.
Not around would be Finals MVP Scottie Thompson, who begged off from the away qualifiers to recover from the nagging hamstring injury that bothered him throughout the mid-conference playoffs.
The do-it-all guard’s spot has since been filled by Converge rookie Juan Gomez De Liano.
Brownlee, Abarrientos, and Rosario’s first Gilas practice coincide’ with the open workout the team will conduct for basketball fans tonight at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
On Tuesday, the entire team leaves for Brisbane, Australia for a week-long camp prior to its campaign in the FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers.
“We’ll try to get used to the weather. We’re going to get there early and get used to it,” said Cone.
“We have a couple of friendlies I think that’s schedule also,” added the Gilas coach, but didn’t mention the teams the national squad will be playing.
From its Brisbane camp, the national team travels to Auckland for its July 3 showdown against New Zealand's Tall Blacks, before going to Perth three days later to take on Australia's Boomers in the final window of the qualifiers.
Tied with the Tall Blacks in Group A with similar 4-2 records for second place, the Philippines is already assured of a berth in the second round along with unbeaten Australia (4-0).
Guam is at the bottom of the same group with a 0-4 slate.
The second round which starts on the final week of August will have all qualified teams carrying their respective records from the first round.
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