Philippines training camp slated to begin in early November

MANILA (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Asian Qualifiers) - The focus of Philippine basketball fans is shifting once again to the national team's preparation for the Asian Qualifiers in November.

With a single tweet yesterday, Gilas Pilipinas head coach Chot Reyes ignited a wave of queries about the national team, announcing that training camp will begin on November 3, just three weeks ahead of their first assignment in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Asian Qualifiers. Gilas Pilipinas will kick off their Group B games by traveling to Tokyo to play Japan on November 24 before hosting Chinese Taipei on November 27. The Philippines are hoping to return to the FIBA Basketball World Cup stage after turning a lot of heads in the previous edition in Spain.

Coach Chot is hopeful that mainstays of the national pool will be available for the training camp, especially since the 2016-2017 PBA season will finally end well before November 3. Some of the big names expected to be part of the pool are Terrence Romeo, June Mar Fajardo, Calvin Abueva and Japeth Aguilar. Rising stars Kiefer Ravena, Carl Cruz and Christian Standhardinger are also expected to be called up. 

Filipino hoop nuts are hoping naturalized player Andray Blatche will also be available, although the 2.10m big man is still non-committal because the 2017-2018 CBA will already have started by November 3. American center Isaiah "Zeke" Austin, who was the foreign player for Chooks-To-Go Philippines at the FIBA Asia Champions Cup 2017, is the team's new candidate for naturalization, but coach Chot does not expect him to be available by the time the November games commence.

"November is out of the question for Zeke," Reyes recently shared with Philstar.com. "Our choice for a naturalized player will be either Andray (Blatche) or Chris (Standhardinger)."

Aside from Japan and Chinese Taipei, the Philippines will also eventually face powerhouse Australia in Group B play.

FIBA