SBP screening-selection committee starts search for next Gilas coach

MANILA, Philippines -- The Search & Screening Committee formed by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, comprised of SBP’s major stakeholders and tasked to come up with a short list of coaching candidates for consideration to national teams made up of PBA players, will convene Tuesday next week to discuss the parameters and criteria under which it will undertake its mandate.

A timeline will be set to govern the selection process of the committee chaired by SBP vice chairman Ricky Vargas, with PBA commissioner Chito Salud, PBA chairman Pato Gregorio, PBA vice chairman Robert Non (representing PBA D-League) and SBP executive director Sonny Barrios.

A series of deliberations will follow as necessary whereupon the recommended names will be submitted to SBP president Manny V. Pangilinan, head of SBP’s Executive Committee, for final decision.

A parallel Search & Screening Committee for national teams without PBA players will meet on Saturday, Nov. 15. Barrios, as SBP representative, will chair the group, which includes SBP Board of Trustees members Edmundo  Baculi, representing UAAP, Fr. Victor Calvo, O.P. (NCAA), Raul Alcoseba (CESAFI and the Visayas-Mindanao regions) and Dr. Ernesto Jay Adalem (NAASCU and NCR).

Both committees' work is recommendatory in nature, with the final choice resting on the SBP president.

Pangilinan, in a board meeting at the PLDT Makati office recently, had proposed a “participative and consultative approach” in the initial selection process for future national teams to address at least nine international tournaments scheduled for 2015.

Among the events set next year are the 28th Southeast Asian Games in Singapore in June and the 28th FIBA Asia Championship in China in August which will serve as the regional qualifier to the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in 2016.

During the meeting, the SBP board was also briefed by Pangilinan on the country’s initial bid to host the 2019 FIBA World Cup, with FIBA coming up with a list of candidates by the end of next month.

Thoroughly discussed as well was SBP’s expanded grassroots development program, with Pangilinan outlining his plan to “undertake an all encompassing overall nationwide program” for the next two years.

The SBP head urged regional SBP leaders to take a more active role in “crafting the program for implementation in their own backyards.”

The novel 3x3 format which FIBA is actively pushing via the multi-leg Masters Tour as a means to spread the gospel of the game will also get a major boost across the country, especially in the towns and municipalities.

Established national leagues at different age groups – 18 yrs. and over via the PCCL , with Rey Gamboa and coach Joe Lipa; Joe Lipa);  under 18 via the NBTC of coach Eric Altamirano; and under 16 through the BEST Center of coach Nic Jorge – will be tapped for SBP’s grassroots undertaking.

Similarly set for launching are the SBP Referees National Accreditation Commission and a nationwide SBP coaching program.