PBA met SBP about National Team [ Smart Gilas 2.0 ]

Source : Reynaldo Belen, InterAKTV

The players of the next incarnation of the SMART-Gilas Pilipinas national team will be known soon, as the Philippine Basketball Association and the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas engaged in talks last week regarding the formation of the squad set to represent the country in the FIBA Asia Championship in 2013.


“The ball is now in our hands,” SBP executive director Sonny Barrios told InterAKTV. “(PBA commissioner Chito Salud) sat down with us and wants to know the players who we need to make up the pool. From now, until the end of the year, we will be in our planning stage. It is during this period we will select the composition of coaching staff and players.”

Salud attended the PBA-SBP meeting last week to learn of the direction of the program and to determine the pro league’s participation in the creation of the SMART-Gilas 2. According to Barrios, himself a former PBA commissioner, his successor Salud had asked them to come up with a list that will be subject to the approval of the PBA Board.

“We will plan also if it would be OK with the board that even if the PBA season is ongoing, they will allow the players we’ve chosen to join the SMART-Gilas training sessions, maski once a week man lang or if there are teams na na-eliminate early, baka pwede na ring dalasan yung pag-attend nung players we’ve selected sa ensayo,” added Barrios.

More than two weeks ago, newly-installed PBA chairman Mamerto Mondragon caught observers by surprise when he announced during the season’s press launch that the PBA board’s plan to allow the loaning of as many as 16 players to the national pool comes with the condition that “they will only play in the FIBA Asia Championship.”

This time, the idea of loaning players has become more flexible, according to Barrios.

“There’s no definite number, but the choices have become more flexible. Still, the board has to know if it’s feasible. Baka naman nga kasi merong isang team na 10 ang players na hihiramin sa kanila, hindi nga talaga pwede yun,” Barrios added.

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Barrios said that the deal between the SBP and the PBA has become mutually beneficial.

“Our former players from SMART-Gilas have been playing impressively so far. That’s not only good for the league, but good for us as well. This means the program has become a breeding ground of players. Now, the league has also infused young blood and are beginning to attract younger fans,” added Barrios.

“On the other hand, it would be ideal as well that some of these players be loaned to serve the country and maintain the continuity in the program.”