Time to think ahead – Salud

CHANGSHA – PBA president/CEO Chito Salud said yesterday with FIBA set to launch a new qualifying format for the 2019 World Cup starting in November next year, there is an urgent need to confer with the SBP on how to form the next national team looking forward.

The format will involve six home-and-away qualifying windows in November 2017, February, June, September and November 2018 and February 2019. From the 2019 edition, the FIBA World Cup will be held every four years to avoid a conflict in schedule with other major sporting events like the FIFA World Cup. Qualification for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics will be through the FIBA World Cup where the top African, Asian and Oceania and the top two Europe and Americas finishers will automatically advance to the Summer Games. A slot will be for the host country Japan and four other slots will be awarded to teams that win four qualifying tournaments of six teams each.

“It’s time to think ahead,” said Salud. “Obviously, with the new qualifying system, the pick-up approach won’t do. We can’t disrupt the PBA season by pulling out players for five of the six qualifying windows. If that happens, it’s like our existence will now be for FIBA. In the US, we understand the NBA has declared that it won’t participate when there is a direct conflict with the season. The NBA season will be in full swing in November and February and the Finals will be in June.”

PBA chairman Robert Non said there is no problem that has no solution. “We should discuss this issue with the SBP right away,” he said. “We need a long-term program so we can plan what to do. I think a pool of players, maybe 12, should be named right after the FIBA Asia tournament and the SBP could just add or subtract as we move on. The pool should practice at least once a week so we do away with the pick-up system when a tournament comes around.”

Non, who represents San Miguel Corp. in the PBA Board of Governors, reiterated that there are no restrictions from the San Miguel group to hold players from joining Gilas. “This is for our country,” he said. “In forming the current Gilas team, some players from the San Miguel group couldn’t join because of injury and personal reasons. JuneMar Fajardo has plantar fasciitis in both feet. He hasn’t practiced since the end of the season. He tried to test himself by running around the oval recently and ended up with a painful left foot so he’s still not reporting for team practice. He really wanted to join Gilas but couldn’t because of his condition. He didn’t want to waste his slot in the team. Marcio (Lassiter) was with Gilas in 2011. Maybe, that 2011 team should’ve been the start of a long-term program. But Marcio’s mother was diagnosed with cancer and is now undergoing chemotherapy. So he couldn’t join because he wanted to be with his mother in the US.”

Salud said the difference between this year’s Gilas lineup and previous rosters is balance. “Now, we’ve got a good balance of young players and veterans,” he said. “I’m quite impressed with Calvin (Abueva) and the energy he brings to the game. It’s rubbing off on the veterans. I’m just as impressed with Asi Taulava who accepted the call even if he knew he wouldn’t get heavy minutes as Andray Blatche’s backup. He’s very active on the bench, cheering his teammates, giving them advice and encouragement. And when he’s on the floor, he’s giving it his 100 percent.”

PBA commissioner Chito Narvasa said Taulava’s attitude on and off the court is something for all Filipinos to be proud of.

Salud said he would’ve liked Blatche to be in better condition. “He’s quite overweight,” said Salud. “When you play in a tournament like this, your naturalized player can’t just be 70 to 75 percent capacity. The rest of the team relies on him.” A positive that Salud noticed is national coach Tab Baldwin’s composure under pressure.

“Coach Tab is the consummate professional,” said Salud. “He knows what he’s doing. He’s composed. His experience as an international coach is helping the team a lot.” PBA governor Alfrancis Chua of Barangay Ginebra said Baldwin has the demeanor of an NBA coach. “When he calls a timeout, he just motivates like in the NBA,” said Chua. “He doesn’t get into the Xs and Os anymore because the players know what they need to do. In one game, Calvin helped out a teammate defending an offensive player and wasn’t able to rotate back to his man who got the ball back and hit a three. Maybe, another coach would’ve screamed at Calvin or even called him back to the bench. But not coach Tab. Calvin knew his mistake and that was good enough for coach Tab.”

Salud said Terrence Romeo’s performance here will surely carry over to the PBA. “I expect Terrence’s level of confidence to be sky high when he returns to Globalport,” he said. “That’s the good thing about playing in FIBA competitions. A PBA player with this kind of experience can only get better and his PBA team will benefit. In the same way, I think the PBA as a whole will benefit from this participation particularly if Gilas wins the championship.”

Salud said when the tournament ends, he hopes to confer with the SBP on the future. “I’m sure the SBP has a long-term plan in mind,” he said. “Will the SBP suggest a five-year freeze on certain collegiate players turning pro? Will there be a policy regarding the pull-out of rookies? What is the expected duration of a player’s tour of duty with the national team? Is forming a pool now a good idea?”

The PBA is represented in Changsha by Salud, Non, Narvasa, Chua, Talk ‘N’ Text governor Ricky Vargas and alternate/former PBA chairman Patrick Gregorio, Meralco governor Al Panlilio, NLEX president Ramoncito Fernandez, Alaska governor Dickie Bachmann and Sean Uytengsu, Blackwater alternate governor Wilbert Loa, media bureau chief Willie Marcial, deputy commissioner Rickie Santos and legal counsel Melvin Mendoza. Globalport governor Erick Arejola cancelled his trip because of an urgent business meeting in Manila.