SCRAMBLING as Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) may be in forming the national team roster for the next window of the 2021 Fiba Asia Cup qualifiers, expect Gilas Pilipinas to be as competitive as ever regardless of the circumstances.
SBP special assistant to the president Ryan Gregorio admitted that the national federation was caught off guard with Fiba's decision to push through with the next set of qualifying games, to be played in mini-bubbles, with the first to be held this November.
Yet it's no excuse for Gilas to not show up as it braces for a tough fight against foes in Group A, namely Korea, Thailand, and Indonesia.
"The thing that surprised us the most is the calendar. We saw that in November, the other one is also in February so we're practically scrambling to form a decent team, if it's gonna push through next month," Gregorio said on SportsPage on Tuesday.
Still, the SBP knows that games like these will be crucial in preparing Gilas once the Philippines hosts the 2023 Fiba World Cup.
"We've always had great conversations with our chairman emeritus Manny V. Pangilinan, as with our chairman Sen. Sonny Angara, and of course our president Al Panlilio. Together with coach Tab (Baldwin), it has always been an animated conversation in talking about Gilas all the way to the 2023 Fiba World Cup," he said.
Fiba has yet to release details regarding the Asian qualifiers, as compared to the continental qualifying windows in Europe and Africa.
That has always been the biggest concern for SBP program director Tab Baldwin.
"It's very late to be finding these things out, but it's still early to be getting details. We're little bit with questions on our minds," he said.
Forming the Gilas roster, as well as the coaching staff, remain in limbo for SBP, first due to the still-unknown details from Fiba regarding the said bubbles, and also, the limitations set by the Philippine government.
The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for Emerging Infectious Diseases has only allowed trainings for professional teams.
It's tough waters to wade in, yet Baldwin is happy to know that those who are part of the pool, as well as those touted to be included, have kept themselves in shape through the quarantine period.
"I don't think there is a rhythm right now, for anybody else. Everybody's been doing individual training at home according to whatever guidelines that exist that allow players to train, and even that has been restricted. We've had players that couldn't leave their homes to even go run up and down the road, at times due to the restrictions," he said.
"But all of that is loosened up a bit now, so players are getting in gyms getting shots up, but there really isn't a rhythm."
Still, everything depends on what and when the government will allow national teams like Gilas to once again re-convene.
"Are we allowed to practice again by the IATF? I think that's the biggest issue that we're facing right now," said Gregorio. "Players are ready to play but are we allowed to practice as a team. That is the question that we are waiting for an answer up to this point."
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