Time is ticking for Gilas Pilipinas to fine-tune the national team in time for the FIBA World Cup which will start next month.
Following a successful camp in Europe, Gilas has resumed training here in the Philippines before a planned pocket tournament in China.
Coach Chot Reyes told News5's Martie Bautista that they are now in a "hectic mode."
"We've been in a hectic mode since last month already," Reyes said after Thursday night's practice.
"We'll be training almost daily."
Reyes is optimistic from their camp in Estonia and Europe and said it's only a matter of integrating the additions to the squad.
"The players are in good spirits. The European trip did a lot of wonders for the chemistry, for the spirit. I think that's very important. The players are feeling a lot better from day 1, so they've all felt the benefits of what we did," he said.
"Right now it's really a matter of assimilating and getting the entire squad together as we approach the final stages of our preparations."
Kai Sotto is expected to join the national team after his stint with the Orlando Magic in the NBA Summer League. The 7-foot-3 center finally got his feet wet in the NBA on Friday.
Jordan Clarkson, who praised Sotto's NBA Summer League debut, has yet to commit when he will join the Gilas camp. Coach Chot is hoping the Utah Jazz guard can participate in the pocket tournament in China.
"We plan to leave August the first. From now until then, it's a matter of making sure to continue improving on the gains that we made in Europe. Continue upping the level of our conditioning. Finally, assimilating the others."