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Shorter PBA schedule gives Gilas more time to prepare for FIBA World Cup, Asian Games

The PBA has granted the requests of Gilas Pilipinas head coach Chot Reyes. After a meeting between Reyes and the PBA, the league, through Commissioner Chito Salud, compressed the current season’s schedule and delayed the start of the next season to allow Gilas ample time to prepare for and compete in the FIBA World Cup in Spain and the Asian Games in Korea.

“One of the main items in the agenda is to discuss the proposed Gilas schedule in preparation for the upcoming World Cup in Spain and Asian Games in Korea,” Salud said in the meeting. “We invited coach Chot to make his presentation and it was duly heard by the board of governors and a resolution was arrived at.”

Reyes then explained the resolution of the Board of Governors. According to Reyes, the current PBA season will end on July 15 instead of August 15. The start of the next season will be delayed to October 19.

“The board reiterated their full support to the Gilas program and they have very generously cut back the schedule by one month,” Reyes said. “They also assured me that if there are other additional players that I would require that they would take it to their respective owners and that they can be considered to be part of the pool for the Gilas team.”

The issue of additional players has been a touchy subject in the country with the performance of players such as Greg Slaughter, Arwind Santos, and Nino Canaleta in the ongoing 2013 PLDT myDSL Philippine Cup.

“Other than that we’re starting our practices after the current finals, first Monday of March. I am leaving Saturday for Barcelona for the draw. By February 4 we would already know which teams, what bracket, what city,” added Reyes. “In the same manner, you should know that we have already filed, with the help of Congressman Robbie Puno, House Bill number 3784 for Javale McGee and 3783 for Andray Blatche.”

ALSO READ: House bills filed for the naturalization on McGee and Blatche

Reyes has long campaigned for the PBA to be given a longer time to prepare for the FIBA World Cup and for the team owners to allow any of their players to join the program.

“The PBA, the team owners, and the governors have agreed to compress the current season shortening it from the original August 13 finish to as early as July 15,” explained Salud. “We’re going to make the second and third conference finals series both best of five.

The PBA Commissioner the echoed Reyes’statements.

“Monday practices for Gilas begin immediately after the Philippine Cup. If Chot would require that it would be provided and then we [could] move back the opening of the 2015 season to accommodate our participation in the Asian games.”