EXPECT no trips outside of the country for Gilas Pilipinas heading to the FIBA Asia Cup.
Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas Executive Director Erika Dy said warming up for the tournament formerly known as FIBA Asia Men's Championship by playing friendlies overseas is not part of national coach Tim Cone's agenda at the moment.
"Sa ngayon he has decided not to compete in friendly tournaments outside of the country. We will be training here as a team and we'll probably leave around August 1 or August 2 to acclimatize ourselves in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia," said Dy.
The tournament is slated August 5 to 17.
The short window left for Gilas to prepare for the meet is also one reason why the team opted to do away with exhibition matches outside of the country.
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As things stand now, the final game of the season-ending Philippine Cup - if ever the finals reaches Game 7 - will be on July 27.
"July 27 to August 5 is the window of coach Tim Cone to prepare," noted Dy.
But an exhibition game might be held here in the country before Gilas departs for the Middle East, and hopefully, have another one in Jeddah prior to the start of the two-week meet.
"We'll probably play an exhibition game here para sendoff na rin sa mga fans. It will be nice for fans to see Gilas play," said the SBP executive. "We don't know who yet we are going to compete against, so that's going to be one tune up game for us.
"And then when we get to Jeddah, we will probably play one of the teams who will come earlier."
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The Philippines is in Group D of the Asia Cup together with Chinese Taipei, New Zealand, and Iraq. (RG)
