MANILA – The Gilas Pilipinas 3×3 basketball team will have to wait until May next year to try to punch a ticket to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, which will take place from July 23 to August 8, 2021.
The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) recently announced the rescheduling of the 3×3 Basketball Olympic Qualifying Tournament from May 26 to 30, 2021 in Graz in Austria.
PBA players Jaymar Perez and Moala Tautuaa teamed up with Joshua Munzon and Alvin Pasaol to form the Philippine 3×3 team. Stefan Stojanic of Serbia served as head coach with Darko Krsman as conditioning coach.
Perez and Tautuaa were with the Gilas Pilipinas 3×3 team that won the inaugural gold in the 30th Southeast Asian Games along with fellow PBA players Chris Newsome and Jason Perkins.
Ryan Gregorio, now special assistant to Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Al Panlilio, said moving the qualifying date is definitely a big advantage to the Gilas team as it will give the Filipinos enough time to play together and further build their cohesion.
“Kung nagsimula ‘yung tournament, I don’t think we have enough preparation,” Gregorio said. “Because it was moved, the 20 countries and its players are back to zero lahat pagdating sa conditioning at pagdating na rin sa preparation.”
“As soon as we’re given clearance by IATF to resume basketball and return to play, magkakaroon tayo ng magandang opportunity to play together to improve our chemistry and camaraderie,” he added.
The Philippines is bracketed with France, Slovenia, Qatar, and Dominican Republic in Pool C, with only the top team in each three groups clinching a berth to the Tokyo Games./PN
