Converge's Justin Arana and La Salle's Mike Phillips. PBA Media/UAAP Media
MANILA – Gilas Pilipinas head coach Tim Cone on Sunday cleared the air on the national team call-ups of Justin Arana of the Converge FiberXers and Mike Phillips of the San Juan Knights.
Cone said the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas is working on a 'long list' or pool of possible players for the 20th Asian Games set for September in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
"It's not in terms of the FIBA window. It's all about the Asian Games and eligibility list," Cone told reporters after Barangay Ginebra's 93-86 win over the TNT Tropang 5G on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
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With about four months left until the Asiad, it's still unclear whether the hosts will adopt FIBA eligibility rules or implement their own just like in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games last year.
Leading up to the SEA Games, head coach Norman Black faced several hurdles in forming a team due to changing eligibility rules by host Thailand.
The Gilas squad that competed in the regional showcase was a product of multiple changes, after some players were replaced due to ineligibility.
In the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games, Gilas ended up fielding a new-look team from an initial 60-man list with limited time for preparations.
Learning from this experience, SBP is making sure they are prepared with several options that meet the eligibility rules.
"There's like 30 players on the list. So we had to make a long list because we don't know the rules and stuff," Cone said.
"Justin's [Arana] is on it. Mike Phillips is on it. There's all kinds of players. So we picked about 30 players. But it's not, that will have nothing to do with the FIBA window," he explained.
Gilas will return to action for the 2027 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers in July.
Cone said Gilas will be fielding the same core from the previous window last March.
The Nationals will face familiar foes New Zealand on July 3 in Auckland, then Australia on July 6 in Perth.