MANILA, Philippines – The PBA is researching alternatives to assist Gilas as the fifth FIBA World Cup Asia qualification window opens in November. Jordan Clarkson and Kai Sotto won’t be available for the road games against Jordan on November 10 and Saudi Arabia on November 13.

The possibility of Gilas using players from specific PBA clubs without interfering with the Commissioner’s Cup’s schedule, which starts on September 21, may be taken into account. The conference will go on as usual during the training time and the window, but the games of the chosen teams will be changed. Another choice is for the PBA to take a 10 day or two week break, but doing so would interfere with the calendar that the league plans to free up starting in May of 2019 for the Gilas’ three-month World Cup preparation camp.

It seems likely that the core of the team that represented the nation in the fourth window against Lebanon and Saudi Arabia will form the basis of a Gilas pool of PBA players. While the Commissioner’s Cup is going on, the pool could show up for practice every Monday. The consistency of a training regimen will develop chemistry so that a pool is ready for mobilization whenever a national team needs to be formed.

There is currently no established training regimen, according to Gilas coach Chot Reyes. Reyes, who recently tested positive and was forced into necessary isolation after missing Game 7 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals, said, “We have yet to confirm schedules.” There is no guidance from the PBA on how to handle the November window, but a PBA Board of Governors meeting is set for today and support for Gilas may be on the table, so I’ll take a breather from the toxic past two weeks first.

Despite the fact that the UAAP and NCAA will be in full swing during the upcoming window, a UAAP official announced that the league will change its schedule to allow players to participate in the FIBA window, with three game days being impacted. Without Clarkson, there is a vacancy for a naturalized player, which could lead to the call-up of Ange Kouame from Ateneo. The procedure to naturalize Cameron Oliver of TNT and Justin Brownlee of Ginebra is underway, but it’s uncertain whether it will be finished in time for the fifth window.

At the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City last August 29, Chinese Taipei defeated the host Philippines in a close match, 28-26, 25-21, 25-21, to complete their 2022 Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Cup for Women campaign.

In a “not that bad but could have been better situation”, the Philippines finishes sixth in the 2022 AVC Cup for Women, This is its highest result in an Asia-level competition since 1983. Not that bad after all. This leaves more room for growth and improvement for the Philippine Volleyball team composed mainly of PVL Creamline.

With 12 points from 11 attempts, Ced Domingo led the losing team. He also had 1 block. Pangs Panaga and Jema Galanza each scored 8 points, Michele Gumabao contributed 9, and the nation finished sixth, improving from ninth in 2018 to its best finish in the competition. 

Lebanon also denied Jordan Clarkson a win in his FIBA debut as it eked out an 85-81 victory over Gilas Pilipinas in the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers at the Nouhad Nawfal Sports Complex in Beirut.

The NBA star churned out 27 points, 7 assists, and 6 rebounds, but the Filipinos fizzled out down the stretch and allowed Wael Arakji to take the Lebanese home with his endgame heroics.

Arakji, the reigning FIBA Asia Cup MVP, powered the Cedars with 24 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists.In a very timely response, an effort to get back on track in the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers, Gilas Pilipinas has called in the cavalry. 

Jordan Clarkson, a Utah Jazz player, and NBA hopeful Kai Sotto will be in attendance when the Philippines take on Lebanon in Beirut to open the fourth window on Thursday, August 25. (Friday, August 26, Manila time). 

High hopes are placed on the Filipino-American NBA star who will make his national team debut in a FIBA match after becoming a naturalized player. The last time Clarkson played for the Philippines was during the 2018 Asian Games, where he led the squad to a fifth-place finish with averages of 26 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 5.5 assists.

These are all but to be taken into consideration and all reviewed as points of improvement for the bold and courageous Gilas Pilipinas. PUSO!