PBA vows continuous support to Gilas Pilipinas even after World Cup

The Philippine Basketball Association said it is willing to extend assistance to the national team even beyond Gilas Pilipinas' looming campaign in the 2023 FIBA World Cup here in the country.

League commissioner Willie Marcial on Tuesday shared that the PBA is open to lending its players anew to the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) come the Asian Games this September in China.

"Patuloy nating sinusuportahan ang Gilas, kung ano ang kailangan ng national team ay tinutugunan po natin," Marcial said during his guesting at the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum on Tuesday.

"Hindi ko pa alam kung sinong players ang gagamitin niya (coach Chot Reyes),   'yung mga players na lalaro sa World Cup ba or bago pero kung ano 'yung kailangan ni coach Chot ay tutulungan ng PBA."

(We will continue in supporting Gilas, whatever help the national team needs. I am not sure yet who are the players who will be chosen to play in the Asian Games but the PBA will help.)

Marcial added that the PBA will also lend their players should Gilas Pilipinas punch a ticket to the 2023 Paris Olympics. The Philippines can clinch an outright Olympics berth in the World Cup if it finishes as the top Asian squad in the global showpiece.

"Sa palagay ko papayag ang Board dahil sinuportahan naman na natin ang World Cup tapos kung makakapasok pa tayo sa Olympics, ayon ang pangarap ng lahat ng Pilipino," Marcial added.

"Siguradong susuportahan po namin ang national team."

(I think the Board will support this because if the team reaches the Olympics, the dream of many Filipinos for the team to play in the Olympics will be fulfilled.)

For the World Cup, the PBA had already shown its support as the current Gilas pool is composed of nine PBA players in Chris Newsome, CJ Perez, RR Pogoy, Scottie Thompson, Jamie Malonzo, Japeth Aguilar, Poy Erram, June Mar Fajardo, and Calvin Oftana.

The league has also adjusted its calendar to give way to the country's hosting, trimming the usual three-conference season into a two-conference run with the Commissioner's Cup and Philippine Cup set to be staged for the 48th season.

—Bea Micaller/JKC, GMA Integrated News