SBP putting premium on continuity, chemistry in Gilas program for new World Cup cycle

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas is looking to carry the momentum of its successful year in 2023 heading into the new World Cup cycle beginning in 2024.

SBP President Al Panlilio said the federation is putting more premium on continuity and chemistry in creating the program and already consulted basketball stakeholders in hopes of getting their support for the FIBA calendar which will run all the way to the 2027 edition of the World Cup.

“We had a meeting, coming together with the stakeholders, and showing the schedule not only in 2024 but all the way to 2027. Our request is to support completely the calendar,” shared Panlilio in an interview with Power and Play with Kom Noli Eala.

“It needs continuity and chemistry among the teams to move forward. It really needs a team that is together for a long time to do well and do better. I think that’s where we are trying to improve,” he added without divulging any specifics of the program being ironed out.

The first step in launching the program though is picking the man who can man the helm in the next few years. The federation has already shortlisted some names that will lead a new ‘model’ that is hoped to address scheduling and manpower issues that Gilas had faced during the World Cup and later on the Asian Games.

“Moving forward, I think we have to take a look at it long term. It was nothing new,” said Panlilio.

“We’ve had many models, ‘yung Rajko (Toroman) years where ‘yung mga bata na ‘di pa pumpasok ng PBA. Then we had the mix with PBA and we had the special drafting for the PBA players that were coming in under Tab (Baldwin), under Chot (Reyes) so marami tayong versions na ginawa and I think that’s always been the challenge.,” he added.

It is set to be a busy year for the national team this year with two qualifying windows for the FIBA Asia Cup set in February and November. The team is also participating in the Olympic Qualifying tournament in Latvia in July.

The third window of the Asia Cup is slated in February next year, a few months before the actual FIBA Asia Cup tournament. The World Cup qualifiers then begin in Nov. 2025 before three more qualifying windows in 2026.

“So those are the challenges in terms of scheduling, in terms of the commitment of the players that we really need to take a look at,” he added.