By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter

THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL men’s basketball team flew to Spain on Sunday morning to further enhance its preparations for the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup which kicks later this month in China.

A 10-day training camp, Gilas Pilipinas is to do tune-up games with African teams Congo and Ivory Coast in Guadalajara before joining a quick four-team pocket tournament in Malaga.

Naturalized player Andray Blatche leads the 11-player team that will compete in the trip, which will be missing key personnel because of the ongoing Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup finals and injuries.

With Mr. Blatche in Spain are Gilas pool members Gabe Norwood, Beau Belga, Robert Bolick, Poy Erram, Kiefer Ravena, CJ Perez, Paul Lee, Mark Barroca, Japeth Aguilar and Matthew Wright.

Mr. Ravena, however, is not expected to participate in the tune-ups and tournament as his FIBA-imposed suspension does not lapse until Aug. 24 but came along to help the team in whatever capacity needed.

Missing the trip from the pool, meanwhile, are June Mar Fajardo and Christian Standhardinger of the San Miguel Beermen and Troy Rosario and Roger Pogoy of the TNT KaTropa whose team are battling it out in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup finals, which started yesterday for Game One.

Also not joining because of injury though are Marcio Lassiter (MCL strain) and Stanley Pringle (ankle sprain) while Meralco Bolts big man Raymond Almazan was a no-go for failing to secure a Spanish visa.

Filipino-American National Basketball Association guard Jordan Clarkson of the Cleveland Cavaliers is part of the 19-man Gilas pool for the World Cup but is also not joining the team in Spain as he has yet to get clearance from FIBA to play for the Philippines.

While they are not in full strength in the Spain training, Gilas coach Yeng Guiao said they are going to make the most out of it since they are already in the “crucial stretch” of their preparation with the World Cup just less than a month away.

“This is a time we can focus 100% on what we need to do on the system we want to set up. There is also good competition there (Spain) so we can gauge where we are in our preparation and if we are ready enough,” said Mr. Guiao during the team’s last practice on Saturday at the Meralco Gym before leaving for Spain.

“We are approaching crunch time, the crucial moments of our preparations. This is the time we hope everybody stays healthy,” he added.

In the lead-up to the Spain trip, Gilas jacked up its preparations by holding daily practices and is it to continue doing so when its return back to the country.

The FIBA World Cup happens from Aug. 31 to Sept. 15 in China.

The Philippines is bracketed in Group D along with Serbia, Italy and Angola in the opening round.

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