So far, so good for Asiad-bound cagers

Gilas Pilipinas’ preparation for the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games has been going smoothly.

Aside from the worries about the availability of naturalized player Justin Brownlee for next month’s gold medal repeat bid, the all-Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Gilas crew is slowly building chemistry and cohesion.

“We’re doing really well so far. We’ve been practicing for over a week,” said Gilas assistant coach Richard del Rosario.

Del Rosario alongside Jong Uichico and Josh Reyes are overseeing the Asiad Gilas’ training while head coach Tim Cone and deputies Sean Chambers and LA Tenorio are busy preparing the other Gilas squad for the 2027 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers hosting against Jordan and Iran in the coming weekend at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Both teams have been training together and has played a couple of tune-up games. The squads have split their scrimmages.

Robert Bolick, who on Wednesday signed a fresh three-year contract with the NLEX Road Warriors in the presence of head coach Jimmy Alapag, team governor Ronald Dulatre, NLEX Corporation president Luis Renon and agent Marvin Espiritu, joins Blackwater’s Sedrick Barefield and Magnolia’s Zav Lucero in building his case for a spot in the Asiad squad.

The trio is expected to lead Gilas’ back-to-back gold medal bid in the competition slated to run from 10 to 20 September.

“The real purpose of the tune-up game is really to get each other ready. Getting that Asian Games team prepared for fast-paced game. Because the one in the Asian Games is a quicker team. We have a different composition for the Asian Games team. And for the (FIBA) window team to prepare the Asian Games team for the size with Kai (Sotto), June Mar (Fajardo) and AJ (Edu) there,” Del Rosario said.

Gilas is fielding an all-pro team in the Asiad with the overseas-based players Dwight Ramos, Edu, Carl Tamayo and Kevin Quiambao unavailable because of their club commitments.