By Jonas Terrado

Gilas Pilipinas laid down initial plans for the first window of the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers after holding its first practice Thursday at the Moro Lorenzo Sports Center inside the Ateneo campus.

Gilas Pilipinas huddles during its first practice for the first window of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers at the Moro Lorenzo Sports Center. (Jonas Terrado)

Gilas Pilipinas huddles during its first practice for the first window of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers at the Moro Lorenzo Sports Center. (Jonas Terrado)

Fifteen of the 24 players on the pool took part in the afternoon session that lasted almost three hours under coach Mark Dickel, who was assigned to call the shots on an interim basis for the games against Thailand and Indonesia.

Project director Tab Baldwin also drew up some plays during the session with help from Dickel’s assistants Sandy Arespacochaga, Alex Compton and Topex Robinson.

PBA players Kiefer Ravena, RR Pogoy, Troy Rosario and CJ Perez and amateurs Isaac Go, Matt and Mike Nieto, Rey Suerte, Allyn Bulanadi, Jaydee Tungcab, Thirdy Ravena, Juan and Javi Gomez de Liano, Dave Ildefonso and Dwight Ramos took part.

Christian Standhardinger, Marc Pingris, Poy Erram and Kobe Paras also attended practice, albeit from the sidelines observing the proceedings.

Gilas is seeking to beat Thailand on Feb. 20 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum and Indonesia three days later in Jakarta in order to start off its bid for an Asia Cup slot on a bright note.

Dickel was tasked to handle Gilas at least for the first window as the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas continues to search for a permanent coach.

The Philippines is in Group A that also includes bitter rival South Korea. The top two teams in the group advance to the continental competition.

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Source: Manila Bulletin