Gilas Pilipinas looks to start FIBA Asia Cup buildup this weekend

The Philippine national men's basketball team is eyeing to return to training camp this weekend in preparation for the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup in August in Indonesia.

Gilas Pilipinas head coach Tab Baldwin revealed to GMA News Online that they are looking to reconvene at the Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba, Laguna but bared they might change the plans pending the government's approval for NCR training.

The American-New Zealander mentor said they would prefer not to hold another bubble if the IATF permits.

"We should be back to training this coming weekend. Actually, we’re still waiting if the government protocol is going to change but we’re planning to go back to the bubble," he said in a phone interview.

"But if the possibility exists that we don’t have to then obviously, we would prefer not to."

Baldwin shared that they had just completed their mandatory quarantine after arriving from Belgrade, Serbia, where they competed in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament against the host nation and Dominican Republic.

After spending their quarantine at Conrad Hotel in Pasay City, Baldwin said they should get to work for an "extremely important" continental cagfest.

The multi-titled tactician stressed the FIBA Asia Cup is the only tournament left that has the closest format to that of the World Cup.

"I think people need to understand that the Asia Cup is so extremely important because right now, with the SEA Games cancelled, this tournament is the last dress rehearsal for an extended-format tournament, in other words, with a lot of teams in it, before the World Cup," Baldwin noted.

"So this is our last chance to get the experiences that we need in this kind of tournament that is similar to the World Cup format."

In a previous interview with GMA News Online, however, Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) president Al Panlilio shared there is no word yet on the fate of the FIBA Asia Cup.

Set to be staged in Jakarta, the showpiece hangs in limbo as the Southeast Asian country is currently experiencing a spike in its COVID-19 cases with 54, 517 new cases on July 14.

—JMB, GMA News