Gilas Pilipinas Players To Get 10-Day Break in Preparation for PBA Season
By MARK REY MONTEJO
Gilas Pilipinas team manager Alfrancis Chua has made an assurance to the national players that they will have a well-deserved 10-day break before they join their respective ball clubs for the upcoming 48th season of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).
Chua revealed that he is currently in discussions with the mother teams of the Gilas players, expressing his desire to provide them with some much-needed rest following their grueling campaign in the recent Asian Games.
“Let’s wait for it. Remember, most of the team members also played in the FIBA World Cup, so they haven’t had any rest,” said Chua, who is also the sports director of San Miguel Corp.
“I have personally informed the players that I will speak with their mother teams to secure a 10-day vacation for them,” Chua stressed.
The Gilas Pilipinas roster consists of 11 players from the PBA, including Scottie Thompson, Japeth Aguilar, and Justin Brownlee from Barangay Ginebra San Miguel; Chris Newsome from Meralco Bolts; CJ Perez, Marcio Lassiter, Chris Ross, and June Mar Fajardo from San Miguel Beermen; Arvin Tolentino from NorthPort Batang Pier; Kevin Alas from NLEX Road Warriors; and Calvin Oftana from TNT Tropang Giga.
“For example, in Newsome’s case, I will coordinate with Meralco. Let’s give them a break. Everybody needs to rest. Even Tim, he wants to take a break,” Chua added.
Naturalized player Ange Kouame is the only player who will not be in the Philippines during this break, as he recently signed with UB Chartres Metropole in France’s professional basketball league, Nationale Masculine 1.
Chua is hopeful that his request will be granted, as the PBA season is set to tip off on November 5.
