GILAS Pilipinas will be getting 40 days to prepare for the 2026 Asian Games where the team will be defending the gold medal in Nagoya, Japan.
The preparation time is part of the reason why PBA will be staging a 15-month 50th Season as it will stop play to make way for the Gilas Pilipinas participation in not just the quadrennial meet but also the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup Asian Qualifiers windows.
READ: With QMB in, Tim Cone spoiled for choice in Gilas frontline
“They are giving us 40 days for the Asian Games,” Cone said. “That’s the hard part. We are defending the gold medal. The expectations are going to be high.”
Cone said preparations for the Asian Games will begin sometime after the July window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup Asian Qualifiers where they will be going up against New Zealand on the 3rd and Australia on the 6th.
Another FIBA window, the start of the second round of the Asian qualifiers, is scheduled on August where Gilas Pilipinas is expected to be in action before the Asian Games, set September 19 to October 4.
“We have the prep for the window, play the window, then we come straight back and prepare for the Asian Games,” said Cone.
Cone said he remains unsure about the availability of the overseas-based players for the Asian Games although it will fall in the offseason of their leagues.
“I don’t know yet of the availability of the Japan and Korea players. Honestly, I don’t know. They are not under FIBA regulations to play in the Asian Games so I’m not sure about their availability," Cone said.
“I’m hoping that we can keep the team intact straight to the Asian Games. That would be fun."
The Philippines won the Asian Games gold medal in Hangzhou, China in 2023, ending a 41-year title drought.
Cone handled the squad on a temporary basis during that time with Justin Brownlee leading the team to the gold with victories over China in the semifinals and Jordan in the final.
Cone is thankful that the PBA gave way to the Gilas preparations.
“That’s a huge advantage that the PBA is given to us – giving us 40 days off. The only thing is everybody (PBA teams) is taking 40 days off,” said Cone.
PBA commissioner Willie Marcial said a mini-tournament is being planned during that 40-day period, instead of taking a break during the season.
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