Gilas starts training for Asia Cup amid PBA playoffs

Despite his busy schedule during the PBA Philippine Cup playoffs, Barangay Ginebra coach Tim Cone confirmed that there will be a training session for Gilas Pilipinas starting today at the Upper Deck in Pasig.

Cone revealed that he is unsure about player availability as many players are still competing in the ongoing playoff games and others remain overseas or unavailable due to travel schedules, but added RJ Abarrientos and Troy Rosario from Ginebra and Zavier Lucero and Rhenz Abando from Magnolia to the pool for the FIBA Asia Cup.

Players like Kevin Quiambao, Justin Brownlee (who will join training sessions this week), and AJ Edu are expected but their presence remains uncertain, while other key players such as Scottie Thompson and June Mar Fajardo may face each other in a crucial Game 7 on Wednesday.

The Monday practice was mostly used for film viewing followed by some voluntary individual work, marking the national team's first meeting one month before the Asia Cup slated for August 5 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Coach Cone emphasized that the practice will not be intense and noted that Gilas is currently 'grasping at straws' due to ongoing PBA playoffs, with overseas players like Carl Tamayo and Dwight Ramos opting to use their rest days to work on their shots.

With about a month before the start of the FIBA Asia Cup, Cone aims for a core group of six or seven players if possible, acknowledging the challenges in organizing training sessions.