PBA commissioner Willie Marcial said the league will continue to support Gilas Pilipinas even beyond the 2023 Fiba Basketball World Cup, including the 19th Asian Games.
Marcial on Tuesday reiterated the pro league will lend its players for the Asiad set from Sept. 23 to Oct. 8 in Hangzhou, China although he and Gilas Pilipinas head coach Chot Reyes have yet to sit down to discuss the roster for the quadrennial meet.
PBA adjusts schedule for Gilas
The PBA has already given way to the country’s participation in the Asiad by moving the opening of its 48th season to Oct. 15.
So far, only naturalized Filipino Justin Brownlee, Barangay Ginebra's import, has been tapped by Gilas for the Asian Games.
“Patuloy kaming susuporta,” said Marcial during Tuesday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum. “Kung ano po ang kailangan nila coach Chot. Hindi ko alam kung sinong player ang gagamitin nila doon, kung ‘yun pa rin Gilas na maglalaro sa World Cup o bago. Pero kung ano ang kailangan ni coach Chot, tutulungan po ng PBA.”
See PBA bares opening day, rookie draft dates for 48th season
Marcial also said the PBA will support Gilas Pilipinas if it qualifies for the Paris Olympics, pending a decision by the league’s board of governors.
Marcial is confident that the PBA board will also approve such move, considering that the league has already supported the Gilas Pilipinas campaign in the Fiba Basketball World Cup, which also serves as a qualifier for the Paris Olympics.
The Philippines must finish as the best Asian team in the World Cup to be able to make it outright in the Paris Olympics basketball competition set July 27 to August 11, 2024.
“Sa palagay ko, papayag ang board dahil sinuportahan na natin ang World Cup tapos makakapasok pa tayo sa Olympics, ‘yun ang pangarap ng lahat ng Pilipino, na makapasok tayo sa Olympics. Siguradong susuportahan po namin ang national team,” said Marcial.
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