No foreign training for Gilas Pilipinas
Gilas Pilipinas assistant coach Tim Cone gives pointers to the players during the live three-on-three defensive drills as part of the training of Gilas Pilipinas.(File Photo)
Photo by Rey Joble
Daily TribuneGilas Pilipinas assistant coach Tim Cone gives pointers to the players during the live three-on-three defensive drills as part of the training of Gilas Pilipinas.(File Photo)
Photo by Rey Joble
Gilas Pilipinas will opt for a simple, cost-efficient buildup in preparation for the FIBA Asia Cup from 5 to 17 August in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) executive director Erika Dy said Gilas coach Tim Cone decided not to join any pocket tournaments abroad as they prepare for the prestigious continental event.
Instead, Gilas will just hold a training camp in the country before playing in an exhibition match that will be made available to the fans.
The national squad will be leaving either on 1 or 2 August, giving it a few days to train and adjust to the punishing Arabian weather that could go as high as 50-degree Celsius.
“For now, he has decided not to compete in friendly tournaments outside of the country,” Dy said on the training program that is different to that of Chot Reyes, who put premium on foreign training when he was still the head coach of Gilas Pilipinas.
“We will be training here as a team and we’ll probably leave around 1 or 2 August to acclimate ourselves in Jeddah.”
“But we’ll probably play an exhibition game here as a send-off for the fans. I think it will be nice for our fans to see us play.”
Dy added that when they get to Jeddah, they are looking at playing against other teams who will arrive early.
“And, then, when we get also to Jeddah, we will probably play one of the teams that come from Jeddah. Coach Tim mentioned that he wanted more days for preparation,” the ranking federation official added.
The Filipinos have a good chance of advancing past the preliminaries as they landed on a very favorable bracket together with New Zealand, Chinese Taipei and Asian minnow Iraq.
After the Asia Cup, Gilas will compete in the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers with assistant coach Sean Chambers serving as representative in the drawing of lots set on Tuesday at the Al Hazm Mall in Doha.
“We don’t know which bracket we will belong to and who we will play against but it’s going to be on 13 May,” Dy said.
“Coach Sean Chambers will be representing us at the draw and it’s going to be in Doha.”