FIBA recently announced on Sunday that Manama will host the bubble games for Groups A and D.

Aside from Manama, Doha and Amman were also chosen as host cities which other groups will be playing. 

Aside from the Philippines,  Thailand,  Korea, and Indonesia are included in Group A. Meanwhile, Group D comprises Bahrain, Iraq, Lebanon, and India.

With this, Gilas Pilipinas is expected in a killer clash in a five-day stretch come the November window of the 2021 Fiba Asia Cup qualifiers.

Last February, the Philippines bested Indonesia, 100-70, which makes Thailand and a long time rival Korea left to battle.

The games were supposed to happen in February but were postponed due to the global pandemic affecting the region.

Thailand is up first against the Philippines on November 26, thus a thrilling rematch of the gold medal game in the 30th Southeast Asian Games last year.

On November 28, the Philippines is up for another gripping game against long time rival Korea with Ricardo Ratliffe, now known as Ra Gun A.

Then on November 30, Gilas and Thailand will meet again to wrap up the November window of the prestigious league. 

Gilas, with less than three weeks to strengthen up before flying to Manama, is looking out to gather an all-cadets team.

Moreover, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) is planning to hold its national team’s training in a bubble at Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba, after the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for Emerging Infectious Diseases gives them a go-signal.