PBA owners ok rescheduling of Governors Cup; Gilas roster known Thursday

MANILA, Philippines – SMC president Ramon Ang, Alaska chief Wilfred Uytengsu, Globalport boss Mikee Romero and the other PBA team owners have all given their approval for the postponement of the league’s season-ending tourney to give way for two full months of unhampered training by the national team for the coming FIBA Asia Championship.

SMC president Ramon Ang, Alaska chief Wilfred Uytengsu, Globalport boss Mikee Romero and the other PBA team owners have all given their approval for the postponement of the league’s season-ending tourney to give way for two full months of unhampered training by the national team for the coming FIBA Asia Championship.

PBA commissioner Chito Salud got the go-signal of the team owners in separate phone conversations with them today or four days after the league board initially discussed the proposal in a meeting in Singapore.

Ang, Uytengsu, Romero, Bert Lina of Air21, George Chua of Barako Bull and Terry Que and Raymund Yu of Rain or Shine reaffirmed their support to the Manny V. Pangilinan-led Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas and the national team, giving their blessing on the rescheduling of the PBA Governors Cup after the FIBA Asia event.

The PBA board of governors, led by chairman Robert Non of Barangay Ginebra, formalizes the approval of the proposal in a special meeting on Thursday.

“They (the team owners) are all positive and they all agreed that we move the schedule of the third conference after the FIBA Asia Championship on Aug. 1-11,” said Salud.

“In order to allow more playing time for member teams and avoid a long layoff between the two conferences (Commissioners and Governors Cups), they agreed to extend the second conference pattered after the Philippine Cup,” Salud also said.

“Instead of ending April 28, the second conference will end last week of May, thus giving the national team two full months of unhampered training,” Salud added.

Salud, however, didn’t say if there are other team owners who expressed readiness to loan any number of players to Gilas Pilipinas outside of the MVP Group teams and Rain or Shine.

The league chieftain said Monday practices by Gilas Pilipinas are allowed as soon as coach Chot Reyes finalizes his lineup.

The national mentor is happy with the development and thankful to the team owners.

“Obviously, I’m very happy. (A period of) two months is a lot better than two weeks. Three months is more ideal, but like I said two months is a lot better than two weeks,” Reyes said.

After one final meeting with the league commissioner, Reyes will name the national roster on Thursday.

“I want to know if they’re sticking with the one-player-per-team policy. The final roster will depend on it,” said Reyes.

Obviously, Reyes is looking not just at one player at Petron Blaze. Arwind Santos, Alex Cabagnot, Chris Lutz and Marcio Lassiter were all included in Reyes’ original pool. Later, Reyes also mentioned his wish to have 6-foot-10 center Junmar Fajardo.

If the league doesn't change the policy, Reyes gets Fajardo from Petron, Marc Pingris from San Mig Coffee and LA Tenorio from Ginebra.

Others in contention for a slot in the team were those who played for Gilas Pilipinas in the Jones Cup, FIBA Asia Cup, and in the recent Dubai and Hong Kong Invitationals. Of course, also being considered are Talk n Text players Kelly Williams, Jason Castro and Jimmy Alapag.

With a highly competitive center in naturalized player Marcus Douthit plus the PBA stars, Smart Gilas is tipped to have a good shot at achieving its goal of earning a FIBA World Cup ticket in the coming Asian joust.