The Gilas Pilipinas national men’s basketball team will be in a rebuilding mode when the second window of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifier tournament this week at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum is over.
A combination of a younger batch of cagers and professional players will form the next pool, said Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas president Al Panlilio.
These new batch of players will make up the next Gilas team that is being prepared for future competitions.
“We are looking for more young players when we gear up for the World Cup. And we’re also creating a pipeline beyond the World Cup,” said Panlilio.
Panlilio said he has learned about Caelum Harris, a Filipino-American high school prospect, who could be part of Gilas in the future.
The 17-year-old Harris will come over to the Philippines and have a tryout. The coaching staff will try to find out if he can be part of the pool.
The 6’7” Harris plays as a small forward at Stewarts Creek High School in Tennessee.
“And so we have identified Harris. He’s only 17 and he might be too early for him to be part of the program next year,” addd Panlilio.
Harris’ family originated from Marigondon, Cebu.
