PBA reiterates commitment to support Gilas Pilipinas program

With the Gilas Pilipinas looking at a busy schedule this year, the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) reiterated its commitment to back the national team program.

PBA chairman Ricky Vargas and commissioner Willie Marcial were in chorus in stressing that they will allow the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) to borrow players from the pro league as the nationals prepare for a pair of competitions next month.

Gilas is looking to take part in the 2023 FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers and the 2022 FIBA Asia Cup in July.

"Regarding sa Gilas [and] SBP, nando'n pa rin 'yung commitment ng PBA to help Gilas. Kung anong kailangan ng Gilas, ibibigay pa rin ng PBA," Marcial said on Monday's preseason press conference for the PBA 47th season.

Vargas echoed: "It's not our role to look at the program of SBP for the national team, but we are a member of the community that is offering whatever we can help in any way, especially next season which is World Cup 2023."

Barangay Ginebra's team governor Alfrancis Chua added that all 12 PBA teams can lend their players to the national cage program, while adding that coaches down to the utility personnel would be available for Gilas.

He, however, noted that SBP should notify the PBA of its plans ahead of time as the league is eyeing to mount a full three-conference this season.

"Since couple of years ago, five years na sa amin si chairman, inagree namin 'yang lahat. Kahit ball boy pwede nilang kunin, walang problema. Sila mamimili, kami, all the teams from Team 1 to Team 12, kung sino gusto nila doon, walang hahadlang," Chua claimed.

"Kahit sino gusto nilang hiramin, kahit pa coach namin hiramin nila ay pwede. Basta lang, 'yung schedule ay sasabihin nila kay commissioner. May nagsasabi hindi [kami] nagpahiram, wala pong katotohanan 'yon."

Four incoming PBA rookies have already been added to the national pool with Converge's Justin Arana, Rain or Shine's Shaun Ildefonso and Gian Mamuyac, and Terrafirma's Javi Gomez de Liaño joining the program. According to Marcial, though, the quartet will still see action for their mother clubs.

"As of now, wala pang sinasabi ang Gilas sa amin kung kailan gagamitin, kung kailan sila magpa-practice. Hangga't wala, nasa team [sila]," Marcial explained.

"'Pag sinabi sa amin ng Gilas kung sino mga players, tsaka namin ipupull out. Pero as of now, maglalaro sila sa mother team."

—JMB, GMA News