Gilas sets Fans Day

MANILA, Philippines — Gilas will hold an open practice at the Filoil EcoOil Center, San Juan, tomorrow afternoon before the team heads to Brisbane for a four-day camp preparatory to playing New Zealand in Auckland on July 3 and Australia in Perth on July 6 during the third FIBA World Cup Asia qualifying window. A press conference will also be conducted during Fans Day.

Gilas head coach Tim Cone said now that the PBA Commissioner’s Cup is over, it’s time to give back to all the fans, not only the Ginebra and TNT faithful. “We’re doing this for the fans, to thank them for their unwavering support,” he said. “I think this team will bring us special moments and pull in a surprise along the way.”

Gilas regrouped for its first practice at Gameville last Wednesday with assistant coaches LA Tenorio, Sean Chambers and Jong Uichico. Attending were Dwight Ramos, AJ Edu, Carl Tamayo, Kevin Quiambao, Justine Baltazar and Mike Phillips. Chris Newsome, June Mar Fajardo, Juan Gomez de Liaño (subbing for Scottie Thompson), Troy Rosario, RJ Abarrientos and Justin Brownlee are others on the squad. Cone presided at practice the morning after Ginebra clinched the PBA title. Tapped as practice players were Ginebra’s Isaac Go, Ralph Cu, Kemark Cariño and Nards Pinto.

Cone said the camp in Brisbane will acclimatize the players to chilly Auckland conditions. It will be a gradual transition from the sunny weather in Manila to the temperate climate in Brisbane to 12-14 degrees Celsius in New Zealand. From Brisbane, Gilas will head to Wellington to play a friendly with the Manawatu Jets and to Auckland for another tune-up with the Franklin Bulls.