FIBA Basketball

    Philippines hosting SEABA shows they mean business

    MANILA (FIBA Asia Cup 2017) - For the first time since 2001, the Philippines will play hosts to the biennial SEABA Championship. This much was announced today as no less than Gilas Pilipinas head coach Cho

    MANILA (FIBA Asia Cup 2017) - For the first time since 2001, the Philippines will play hosts to the biennial SEABA Championship. This much was announced today as no less than Gilas Pilipinas head coach Chot Reyes tweeted about the development.

    The Philippines have been the most dominant Southeast Asian basketball nation in history, as proven by their winning 7 of the 11 past editions of the SEABA Championship. The last time another country rose to the top was in 2013, when the Philippines did not send any representative.

    Despite their gold-laden record in the tournament, the Philippines are not taking this year's competition lightly. With just one SEABA slot in place for FIBA Asia Cup 2017, coach Chot Reyes knows he and his wards cannot afford to be complacent.

    "It's either you win the SEABA or you don't go to Asia Cup," Reyes told the Philippine Star. "We all know that our Southeast Asian neighbors have caught up."

    With the depth of talent and wealth of experience Gilas Pilipinas have had in the international setting, one may think they are shoo-ins to run roughshod over their foes at the SEABA sub-zone, but recent results suggest otherwise.

    The Philippines fell behind early and had to rally against Thailand in the Semi-Finals of the SEA Games 2015 before just scraping by Indonesia in the gold medal match. The Thais gave the Filipinos another huge scare last year, this time in the SEABA Cup, where Gilas won by the skin of their teeth, 66-65, over the Tim Lewis-mentored Thailand quintet in the last day of the elimination round.

    ...

    Coach Chot is also wary of the fact that both Indonesia and Thailand are expected to be reinforced by naturalized players, and how the levels of basketball in Singapore and Malaysia have also increased thanks to the ASEAN Basketball League (ABL).

    "Now we know that Indonesia has a naturalized player, Thailand will have a naturalized player," coach Chot said. "So we have to bring our best."



    Very recently, coach Chot revealed the names making up the 2017 pool of Gilas Pilipinas, and with players like June Mar Fajardo, Terrence Romeo and Jayson Castro in the mix, it's clear the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) is leaving no detail unchecked in giving their team every possible edge.

    This hosting affords the Filipinos the comforts of their own surroundings and sets aside any significant adjustment period that naturally comes when playing in another country. Of course, having their home fans pack the stands and cheer them on should also bolster Gilas Pilipinas's chances even more.

    "We are very happy to have been awarded the hosting of both the men’s and under 16," SBP President Al Panlilio told FOX Sports Philippines. "It will give Filipinos great joy, and it’s critical for us to win SEABA as this is part of our journey to the 2019 World Cup."

    Indeed, with this hosting now in the bag, the SBP and Gilas Pilipinas are showing the region that their target is set and the mean business.


    FIBA