November 11 ------ GILAS Pilipinas begins preparation for the second window of the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers on Nov. 15. Coach Tim Cone has given Gilas members from both TNT and Barangay Ginebra at least a week’s rest before they assemble again and prepare for the Nov. 21 and 24 qualifiers at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The two teams are coming off a grueling finals for the PBA Governors Cup championship, which the Tropang Giga won in six games. At the same time, San Miguel and Meralco will still have their respective games played in the East Asia Super League (EASL) at the Philsports Arena this coming Wednesday. “We’re convening on the 15th. San Miguel and Meralco have the EASL on the 13th, and the earliest we can get together is on the 15th,” said Cone.
The Beermen will be facing the Taoyuan Pauian Pilots of the P. League+ on Wednesday at the Philsports Arena, followed by the Bolts opposite the Suwon KT Sonicboom of the Korean Basketball League (KBL).
Otherwise, Cone expects all members of the pool to be there on the first day of the Gilas training. “I expect everybody to be there,” said the national team coach. “I think Carl Tamayo will be a day late coming from Korea because he has a game on the 14th,” added Cone.
The Philippine team plays host to New Zealand and Hong Kong in the four-day window. It plays the Tall Blacks on the 21st and then take on Hong Kong three days later. Gilas is currently tied in Group A with New Zealand, both with 2-0 records.
Source: spin.ph
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