Salud shoots down SEA Games stint for Gilas

After Philippine Sports Commission Richie Garcia suggested that the Gilas-Pilipinas national team represent the country in the upcoming Southeast Asian Games in Myanmar, PBA Commissioner Chito Salud quickly shot down the idea. 

 

“I doubt it,” said PBA Commissioner Chito Salud. “The PBA will be in the middle of the [2013-2014] 2014 Philippine Cup.”

The 2013 SEA Games are currently slated for December 11 to 22.
 

The PBA has already adjusted their game schedules to give Gilas-Pilipinas ample time to prepare of the FIBA Asia Championships that will be held in Manila this August. The league pushed back the 2013 Governor's Cup to late in August, following the international tourney, creating a domino effect that will result in a late start to the 2013-14 season.

 

In the 2011 SEA Games held in Indonesia, a team of collegiate players was more than enough to win the gold medal. Coached by current Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters mentor Norman Black, the Philippine team, known as "Sinag," was bannered by Greg Slaughter, Rayray Parks, Chris Tiu, Cliff Hodge, and Chris Ellis.

The squad swept the elimination rounds before defeating Malaysia 103-74 in the semifinals. They then defeated Thailand 85-57 to win the gold.

 

Even though Salud shot down the idea, he had a suggestion on who should be sent to the SEA Games. “Perhaps it’s time for our younger future national team players to be tester there,” commissioner said, in reference to the Gilas "cadet team."

 

Back in 2007, the SEA Games gold-winning team was composed of players such as Jayson Castro, Gabe Norwood, Jeff Chan, and Beau Belga. They are now all members of the Gilas-Pilipinas squad currently training in Lithuania. - AMD, GMA News