ALLAN THE MAN

NBA scout Jim Kelly, once a part of the coaching staff of Presto/Great Taste during the early 1990s, remains to keep an eye on Philippine basketball despite his work for the Dallas Mavericks.

That’s why during one of his visits to the practices of Gilas Pilipinas, he quickly noticed one player missing from the team: reigning back-to-back PBA MVP June Mar Fajardo.

Check out how Terrence Romeo completed a couple of crossovers while they were playing against the Netherlands in their pocket tournament in Estonia.

Romeo is part of the Gilas pool currently training in Estonia.

After losing the bid to host the 2019 FIBA World Cup two weeks ago, the Philippines has the option to stage one of three Olympic qualifying tournaments in case Gilas fails to win the FIBA Asia championship in Changsha on Sept. 23-Oct. 3 but that will mean participating in another bid process.

SBP executive director Sonny Barrios said the other day he hasn’t received information from FIBA on the details of the Olympic qualifying tournaments that will be held on July 5-10 next year or a month before the Rio Summer Games begin.

Defensive ace Marc Pingris has changed his mind and said that he will suit for the Philippine national men’s basketball team in the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship if given the chance.

Pingris announced his decision on Wednesday in a statement.

Calvin Abueva is set to play in his first games overseas for Gilas Pilipinas and he can't hide his excitement as he prepares to measure himself against international competition.

On a six-hour layover in Istanbul, Turkey as Gilas Pilipinas makes the trip for a pocket tournament in Estonia, the Alaska forward told Spin.ph he looks forward to showing the world what Pinoy basketball is all about.

Philippine national men’s basketball team mainstay Ranidel de Ocampo, whose hamstring injury has kept him from practicing with Gilas Pilipinas, will still be joining the squad’s trip to Europe after all.

Head coach Tab Baldwin disclosed this latest development to InterAksyon.com in a telephone interview after the team just wrapped up its last practice on Monday morning prior to leaving the country Monday night.

Marc Pingris’ agent, Ed Ponceja explained why Pingris decided to skip participating in the Gilas program, (READ: Marc Pingris unavailable for Gilas Pilipinas) which is gearing up for the FIBA Asia, an Olympic qualifying tournament, to be held in China from September 23 to October 3.

“Bago pa lang kasi yung coach ng Star medyo naghahabol pa sila sa gagawin. Baka nga mag twice-a-day practice pa sila so hindi na kakayanin ni Ping yung oras,” Ponceja said.

Marc Pingris dropped by Gilas Pilipinas practice on Saturday afternoon to formally inform coach Tab Baldwin of his unavailability to suit up for the national team.

The Star Hotshots forward was teary-eyed as he talked to the American-Kiwi mentor at the Meralco Gym in Pasig City, getting emotional for his inability to serve the flag.

Gilas Pilipinas open its campaign in the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship in taking on Palestine at 11:45 a.m. on September 23 at the Changsha Social World College Gymnasium in Changsha, China.

The Nationals, in a light preliminary-round bracket, next play Hong Kong at 9:30 a.m. the following day, then Kuwait at 4:45 p.m. on Sept. 25.

Check out Jordan 'Mission Impossible' Kilganon throw down the jaw-dropping "Scorpion Dunk" in a contest for the first time ever.

2014 FIBA 3x3 World Tour Final - Day 1. Manila West defeated Sao Paulo Brazil, 21-17.

The Philippines national team's stint in the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup gave the country a bump in the latest world rankings released by the international basketball body.
From No. 34, the Philippines rose three spots to No. 31 after Gilas Pilipinas finished 21st out of 24 teams in the world championship. Gilas won just one game in the World Cup against Senegal, but became darlings of the tournament after tough defeats against fancied opposition Croatia, Greece, Argentina, and Puerto Rico.