By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
The Gilas Pilipinas men’s national basketball squad is yet to practice as a complete team with 10 days remaining before the FIBA Asia World Cup Asian qualifiers November window kicks off.
According to Gilas head coach Chot Reyes, the Japan B. League members are yet to arrive in the Philippines while Kai Sotto might head straight to Amman due to New Zealand NBL’s tournament schedule.
Reyes confirmed the development during PSC Chairman Noli Eala’s sports program Power & Play and added that Kiefer & Thirdy Ravena, Dwight Ramos, and Bobby Ray Parks Jr. might arrive on Tuesday or Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the current TNT Tropang Giga chief mentor said that aside from Sotto’s professional basketball schedule, the towering center is yet to acquire a Jordanian visa.
In the NZ-NBL announced playing calendar, all pro participating teams will begin their international break on November 5.
Reyes then reiterated that Sotto might have a direct flight to Amman from New Zealand and join the national team there.
With the given time frame of arrival for the Filipino reinforcements abroad, Gilas will most probably only have a week of practice with the B. League hoopers.
As per Sotto’s case, if he arrives in Amman on November 6, he will only have five days to refresh their offensive and defensive executions.
Gilas will face Jordan on November 10 and is hoping to replicate their dominant performance in Saudi Arabia on November 13.
“The guys in Japan and Kai know the things that we are doing. Hopefully, those three days, we will be able to prepare well against Jordan,” said Reyes.
