Sinimulan na ng Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) ang pagbuo sa pambansang koponan na isasabak sa gaganaping 28th Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) at Southeast Asian Basketball Association (SEABA) na isang qualifying event para sa prestihiyosong FIBA Asia sa China.
Isiniwalat nina Butch Antonio, SBP Executive Director for International Affairs, at itinalagang men’s national basketball head coach na si Thomas Anthony “Tab” Baldwin, na sinimulan nila noong Lunes ng gabi ang pagsasama-sama ng kabuuang 25 manlalaro na napili nila mula sa iba’t ibang pangunahing kolehiyo sa bansa.
“We started last Monday,” sinabi ni Antonio.
”We invited 25 athletes, which we can’t say are the best but based on the criteria wanted by our head coach,” dagdag pa ni Antonio hinggil sa binubuong koponan sa cadet program na siya ding ipadadala sa SEAG sa Singapore.
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“They are all non-PBA players, other than Marcus, who has an existing contract with SBP and is now playing for Blackwater. Some of them are either from D-League or best collegiate league in the country. We even have a player coming from Cebu,” pahayag naman ni Baldwin, dating Australian national team coach.
Hiniling naman ng SBP sa Team Philippines SEA Games Management Committee na bigyan sila ng karagdagang panahon para sa pagpasa ng kanilang pinal na listahan na ilalahok sa SEA Games kung saan ay sunud-sunod na iniuwi ng bansa ang ginto maliban lamang noong 1989.
“We ask for a little extension for at least a month because we just really started with the try-out. We will trim the numbers down to 16 after four weeks and at end to just 12. These 12 players will be the one playing for SEABA and to the SEA Games,” giit pa ni Antonio.
Hindi naman ikinabahala ni Antonio at Baldwin ang ulat hinggil sa pagpapalakas ng mga karibal na bansa na tulad ng Singapore na kumukuha na rin ng kanilang naturalized players.
“It is up to the coaches now with regards to the scouting. We know that other countries are trying to strengthen their team but we are optimistic that our national coaching staff knows their responsibility well under coach Baldwin,” ayon kay Antonio.
Kinilala naman ni Baldwin ang tutulong sa kanya bilang coaching staff na sina Josh Reyes, Nash Racela, Michael Oliver at ang kareretiro lamang na dating miyembro ng Gilas Pilipinas na si Jimmy Alapag.
