Para sa FIBA-Asia Ph team Salud, Reyes nagkaayos na

MANILA, Philippines - February 18 ang target date ng pormal na simula ng ensayo ng Gilas Pilipinas men’s National basketball team para sa 2013 FIBA-Asia Championships ngayong Agosto na gaganapin muli sa bansa matapos ang 40-taon.

Ito ang napag-alaman kay Gilas Pilipinas head coach Chot Reyes pagkatapos ng pakikipagpulong nito kay PBA Commissioner Chito Salud  kahapon sa PBA office sa Libis, Quezon City.

“Target start is Februa-ry 18. May final decision na ang PBA by then,” pahayag ni Reyes, na aantayin muna ang magiging desisyon ni Salud tungkol sa format at scheduling ng Governors Cup o third conference ng 38th PBA season bago ila-labas ang kanyang listahan ng mga players mula sa PBA na nais nitong bumuo ng Gilas Pilipinas para sa darating na FIBA-Asia Championships.

“The naming of  a lineup is going to be dependent on the final sche-dule. For now, we’re not yet prepared to name any players because… gusto namin malaman exactly what is the time we have available and then we will make that decision later,” paliwanag ni Reyes.

“Having the best players is only 50% the other 50% is having the time to prepare them and gel them into a great team,” wika din nito, sabay dagdag ng kanyang taus-pusong pasasalamat sa PBA sa bigay-todong suporta ng liga sa ambisyon ng bansa na makabalik sa FIBA-World Basketball Championships na gaganapin sa Spain sa 2014.

Ang Top 3 finishers sa darating na FIBA-Asia Championships – na hu-ling idinaos at napanalunan ng Pinas noong 1973 pa – ang kakatawan sa Asya sa world championships sa susunod na taon.

“We’re very thankful sa PBA really for their all out support in this prog-ram in trying to achieve the goal in qualifying for the world championships... we’re very appreciative of their efforts especially the Commissioner,” ani Reyes.

“What is clear from the PBA standpoint is we are here to fully support the cause of Gilas Pilipinas and as a proof of that we will come out with a third conference schedule that will certainly strengthen the chances of our  National team, make the best players available for the team, and lend support by way of giving the National team ample time,” ani Salud.