Coach Chot Reyes and Other Gilas Players No Longer Part of The National Team due to New Screening Committee?

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Big Boss Manny V. Pangilinan (MVP) divulged that there will be a new committee that will screen possible new Gilas head coach and players during the SBP (Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas) board meeting few days ago.

The new committee made up of veteran officials from the PBA, PBA D-League, NCAA, UAAP, CESAFI, and NAASCU will be handling the coach and players selection of the Smart Gilas National Team for next year's tournaments onwards.

The formation of the New Gilas Team that will participate in the Asian Games, FIBA Asia Qualifying Tournament, and World Cup will be handled by the officials from the PBA and PBA D-League while the National Team that will participate in the SEABA and SEA Games will be administered by the officials from the aforementioned collegiate leagues. The SBP will further screen the coaches and players who passed the first round of screening.

Due to this move by the SBP, a new Gilas Coach and new players are expected to be part of the squad that will compete in the 28th FIBA Asia Championship in China on August 2015 which will also be a qualifying tournament for the 2016 Olympics in Brazil.

MVP also challenged the Philippine Basketball Stakeholders to be more active in showing their support to our Men's National Team in the coming years especially now that they are eyeing to make the Philippines the host country of the FIBA World Cup 2019.