PBA commissioner Willie Marcial reiterated the league's willingness to lend players to the national team in the wake of suspensions slapped on 10 Gilas Pilipinas players for their roles in a brawl against Australia last July 2.
Marcial said Gilas has players from the league's 12 member teams at its disposal when it forms a team for succeeding matches in the Fiba World Cup Asian qualifier and possibly for the Asian Games in Indonesia in August.
“Ilang beses ko na sinabi yan na all-out support ang liga at buong PBA board when it comes to national cause. Isa yan sa mga unang tinutukan ko nung umupo ako as commissioner,” said Marcial, who attended the press conference held by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) at the PLDT office.
The league offer, Marcial assured, includes players outside the 14 PBA stars named to the original 24-man pool by coach Chot Reyes for the qualifier.
It meant standouts such as Raymund Almazan, Arwind Santos, Greg Slaughter, Marcio Lassiter, Poy Erram, Paul Lee, Mark Barroca, Vic Manuel, Stanley Pringle, among others can be tapped for the second round of the qualifier set to start in September.
San Miguel rookie Christian Standhardinger is also an option as Gilas naturalized player after Andray Blatche was suspended for three games for his role in the brawl.
Marcial, however, said players will have a final say on their availability.
“Basta pumayag ang player, walang problema,” said Marcial.
Eligibility papers of Fil-foreign players being eyed by Gilas should also satisfy Fiba's stringent requirements, according to the commissioner.
“Kailangan din siyempre maayos yung mga papers nila otherwise, baka hindi rin payagan ng Fiba,” he added.
The league board is scheduled to meet on the last Thursday of the month, and Marcial said the Gilas matter will certainly be included in the agenda.
“Pag-uusapan iyan,” said the commissioner, who added the country’s participation in the Asian Games will likewise be taken up. “Pati sa Asian Games kailangan ding pag-usapan kung tuloy bang magpapadala ng team.”
Marcial was relieved the Fiba suspension on the 10 players didn’t extend to the PBA.
“Ia-appeal talaga naming yun kung sakali,” he said. “Hanapbuhay ng mga players yan, e.”
Of the 10 Gilas members, Calvin Abueva received the longest suspension afte being banned for six games, followed by Roger Pogoy, Carl Bryan Cruz, and Jio Jalalon with five each.
Slapped with a three-game suspension were naturalized player Andray Blatche, Terrence Romeo, and Jayson Castro, while banned for a game each were Matthew Wright and Japeth Aguilar.
Wright, and Aguilar will be eligible to play immediately after the country hosts Qatar behind closed doors on Sept. 17.
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