New Gilas Cadets Program
Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas or SBP is reviving the Gilas Cadets Program where amateur players will train and represent the Philippine National Basketball Team for the next 3 years.
Although there is no final player list yet for the new Gilas Cadets, according to reports, Kiefer Ravena, Mac Belo, Kevin Ferrer and other players from the recent Gilas Cadets SEABA Stankovic Roster will skip the upcoming PBA draft and will compete in the FIBA Tournaments until the 2019 FIBA World Cup.
Starting in 2017, FIBA will change the way teams qualify for the FIBA World Cup by having home and away games during the year and this may be in conflict with the PBA Season.
Gilas Pilipinas Head Coach Tab Baldwin will still be the head of the program similar to what Coach Rajko Toroman did in the original Smart Gilas program which includes Marcio Lassiter, JVee Casio, Chris Tiu and many more.
This also means no Top Rookies in the upcoming PBA Draft/
What are your thoughts on the new Gilas Cadets program?
The Gilas cadet program is good, however, the SBP should start training the younger players. Guys who no longer have college eligibility should not be included, only those players that are 18-21 yo. Ravena, Belo and Co. should go pro but there should be an agreement with the PBA that whoever drafts them (the current crop of cadets) would still allow them to train and play during the offseason. Agreement with the PBA should also include all the current players who have already played for Gilas (Fajardo and the others). PBA players should/can reinforce the Gilas cadets whenever they are available. The PBA is still part of SBP, right??
They need to train guys like FEU’s Holmqvist, Ateneo’s Tolentino and Ravena, UP’s Desiderio, NU’s Aquino, SBC’s Mocon, DLSU’s Rivero bros, and other college players.Kobe Paras can also join the team whenever he is available.
Coach Tab said Gilas needs a bigger pool, that’s what SBP must provide.