Gilas Pilipinas is bringing a competitive unit to the final window of the FIBA Asian Cup qualifiers especially with the arrival of young NBA Filipino prospect Kai Sotto.
The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas made the assurance on Tuesday or about two weeks before the national team departs for Doha, Qatar for the Feb. 18 to 22 meet.
SBP President Al S. Panlilio said the 19-man Gilas pool currently in the Calamba bubble at the Inspire Sports Academy, is being pushed hard in training by coach Jong Uichico and project director Tab Baldwin. And nothing is expected to change once the 7’3” Sotto finally gets to join them in a week or so
“I think this team will compete,” said Panlilio, appearing in the webcast edition of the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum for the first time.
“We’re very happy with the way the team is developing. They’re playing hard and ready to go.”
Sotto, 18, is required to follow quarantine protocols upon arrival before he could join the team in practice. More or less, he’ll have one week of practice with the Gilas pool before the Philippine delegation leaves three days before the tournament.
“Kaya nga sabi ko the sooner he really comes in, the better for him. He needs to understand the system they’re trying to play and run. Kumbaga sa basketball, dapat nagkaka-amuyan na kayo ng teammates mo, and you can only do that if you’re practicing with them,” Panlilio said in the session presented by San Miguel Corp., Go For Gold, MILO, Amelie Hotel Manila, Braska Restaurant, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation.
Although the SBP chief considered Sotto, a member of the NBA G-League Ignite, a great addition to Gilas, he also cautioned everybody to temper expectations on the lanky Filipino big man.
“He’s improved a lot for sure, but he’s also just 18 years old. So we can’t also put too much pressure on him,” added Panlilio in the Smart-powered public sports program with Upstream Media as official webcast partner. “He’s the future of Philippine basketball for sure, but he’s also developing as a player, as a person.”
Gilas Pilipinas currently stands on top of Group A with a 3-0 (win-loss) slate and only needs to win one of its three matches in the third window to secure a berth in the FIBA Asia Cup tournament proper in August to be held in Jakarta, Indonesia.
The Filipinos will play fellow unbeaten South Korea (2-0) twice on Feb. 18 and 22, and Indonesia (1-2) on Feb. 20.
Nonetheless, the national team is not taking any chances.
“We really need to win just one game to qualify. But we will try to win all of the games,” stressed Panlilio, who is likewise first vice president of the Philippine Olympic Committee.
The SBP will have to submit the lineup to FIBA by Feb. 8. The team then leaves for Doha either on Feb. 15 or 16 with a 20-man contingent composed of players, coaching staff, physical therapists, and utility men.
If his busy schedule as PLDT Chief Revenue Officer and Smart President and Chief Executive Officer would allow it, Panlilio is looking to join Gilas Pilipinas and watch at least one of the three games it will play.