TAIPEI – Tinitingnan ng Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas ang ibang paraan ng pagbuo ng susunod na national team.
Bagama’t malaki ang pasasalamat ng SBP sa PBA, sinabi ni SBP vice chairman Ricky Vargas na kinokonsidera nila ang ibalik ang original Gilas cadet program.
Tinitingnan din ang pagpapalakas ng tatlong MVP Group ball clubs sa PBA, particular ang flagship team na Talk ‘N Text para puwedeng kunin ang mga players nito para lumaro sa national team.
“We need to come up with a long-term program for SBP rather than rely a hundred percent on the PBA because it’s very volatile,” sabi ni Vargas. “Sometimes they’re there, sometimes they’re not there. There’s no assurance. The best way to do is go back to the cadet program,” sabi pa ng SBP official na tinutukoy ang original program na kinabibilangan noon nina Marcus Douthit, Greg Slaughter, Japeth Aguilar, Jvee Casio, Mark Baracael, Mark Barocca, Marcio Lassiter, Chris Lutz at iba pa.
Ayon kay Vargas, puwedeng makasama sa bubuuing cadet team sina Bobby Ray Parks, Kiefer Ravena, Marc Belo at Kobe Paras.
Sabik ding makita ni Vargas na lumaro ang mga amateur stars kasama ang mga Talk ‘N Text players na sina Jason Castro, Ranidel de Ocampo, Matt Rosser, Moala Tautuaa, Kelly Williams, Troy Rosario, natura-lized player Andray Blatche at Jordan Clarkson.
“If people think we’re getting the best players (to TNT), that’s our vision. If Talk ‘N Text is good enough to be a national team, it’s so much easier than to kneel down and ask for assistance,” sabi ni Vargas. “I don’t mind saying that. That’s a serious consideration.”
Hiniling na ng PBA board na magkaroon ang SBP ng long-term national team program lalo na’t magbabago na ang FIBA ng calendar of events na magi-ging conflict sa schedule ng PBA na nangakong tutulong para sa pagbuo ng team.