The next Gilas cadet roster is an “active pool” where players can be replaced year after year, with the players dropping out of the program eventually moving on to the PBA.
The SBP is set to revive the original Gilas program that will gain long-term commitments from top amateurs like Kiefer Ravena, Mac Belo, Kevin Ferrer and Mike Tolomia – players who consequently will be forced to skip the next PBA rookie draft.
Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) president Manny V. Pangilinan said “the pool will be an active pool where we could start with a certain number of players, but after each year, you could replenish and replace certain players.”
“Those who are being replaced can conceivably get drafted by the PBA. It’s only the first year that there could be an impact on drafting.”
He stressed the need for the SBP and PBA to sit down and draw up a plan on the formation of future national teams in light of Fiba’s move to shift to a quarterly home-and-away qualifying format for the 2019 World Cup.
“The details of the program will have to be coordinated with Commissioner Narvasa so that we will be working in collaboration with what the PBA likes and the calendar.”