PBA mulls new format to help Gilas 5

MANILA, Philippines - Possible revision of the PBA Governors Cup format and schedule to help the national team in its preparation for the coming FIBA Asia Championship will be up for discussion as the PBA board of governors convenes in a meeting next Thursday.

By that time, national coach Chot Reyes may have named his new pool of players for the Asian joust that the country is hosting Aug. 1-11.

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas vice chairman and PBA board member Ricky Vargas is hopeful Reyes would be given flexibility to rehash his roster since the pro league has pronounced full support in the country’s bid to form the best and most competitive team that will embark on a quest to make the 2014 FIBA World Cup.

Reyes has mentioned several times the names of Junmar Fajardo, Arwind Santos and Marc Pingris.

Another wish by Vargas and the SBP leadership headed by Manny V. Pangilinan is for the PBA to tweak its third conference format to give the national team opportune time to prepare for the FIBA Asia meet.

Under the approved calendar, the PBA will last up to July 28 if the Governors Cup Finals reaches a deciding Game Seven. The FIBA Asia Championship opens three days later.

Both the UAAP and the NCAA have made a decision to make way for the FIBA Asia Championship. Vargas expressed confidence help from the PBA is also forthcoming.

“I’m confident because of the recent pronouncement of full cooperation of the PBA to build the best team and most competitive. When you talk about competitive, it goes without saying best preparation or most opportune time for the national team to prepare for the tournament,” said Vargas.

PBA commissioner Chito Salud has said all PBA team owners are fully behind the undertaking.

PBA board chairman Robert Non, meanwhile, has declared: “The PBA will extend all possible support to make this event a memorable and fruitful one, most especially in ensuring that we come up with a strong lineup that can compete with the best of Asia.”

On his Twitter account, the national coach said he would not answer questions about FIBA Asia lineup until they get back to Manila and meet with all concerned people.

With mostly cadet players, Gilas Pilipinas failed to get past the quarterfinal round in the 24th Dubai International Basketball Tournament as it suffered a third straight loss at the hands of Sagesse-Beirut, 65-95, late Thursday night.

Sagesse imports DeShawn Sims, Aaron Harper and Chudney Gray proved too much for Marcus Douthit and company as it advanced to the semis while sending Gilas Pilipinas to a 1-3 finish in the tourney.

Host club Al Ahli, Al Riyadi and Sporting Amarex of Jordan were the three other teams that reached the Final Four. It’s Sagesse versus Sporting Amarex and Al Ahli against Al Riyadi in the semis.

Smart Gilas will fly home briefly before leaving again to compete in the King’s Cup in Hong Kong.

Minus the elite pro players, Reyes is just using these international tourneys as training and learning experience for the cadet players set to play in the Myanmar SEA Games also late this year.