Gilas Pilipinas extends the olive branch

We all knew what happened. But there’s no use elaborating on it anymore. The players and officials involved have served their sanctions and Gilas Pilipinas will be playing in the FIBA World Cup at month’s end.

However, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas is not contented in letting the issue pass without offering a peace pipe. They started by inviting Australian coaches Damian Cotter and Dean Vickerman in the SBP Coaches Summit at the Meralco Fitness Center last month.

Now, their final preparation for the World Cup involves two tune-up games with the Adelaide 36ers of the National Basketball League.

The scrimmages were initially met with apprehension especially because the infamous incident happened just last year. But the time is ripe to provide closure over the brawl. The plan was settled through the help of TNT Katropa consultant Mark Dickel.

It must happen in the Philippines to prove that the Philippine Arena brawl is an aberration, not the norm. The players and team officials of the 36ers have raved about the grand time they are having so far and the opportunity to help Team Pilipinas gear up for the quadrennial competition.

The cherry on top of this arrangement is that 36ers head coach Joey Wright played for the Presto Ice Cream Kings in the 1992 PBA Third Conference. Despite winning just one out of 11 games, the 6’ 3” point guard from Alton, Illinois had fond memories of his stint in Asia’s first professional basketball league. Among them are the fan’s passion for the sport and the opportunity to play with PBA Hall of Famer Allan Caidic.

The goodwill games between the Gilas Pilipinas and Adelaide 36ers tune-up games will be played on August 23 and 25. Coach Yeng Guiao and the coaching staff will settle the final World Cup line-up after the second match. The selected players and their mentors will travel to China on August 29 and play Italy on the 31^st.

(Photo credit: Jerome Ascano, SPIN.ph)