Black and Garcia both eagerly accepted the chance to work again with the national team starting with the bubble training that the Gilas men are going to undergo at the Inspire Sports Academy in Laguna this month.

The FIBA qualifiers are scheduled to start on Feb. 18 to 21 under a bubble set-up at Clark Mimosa similar to the PBA Season 45.

Black shared he received an invitation from Gilas program director Tab Baldwin to join the coaching crew of the national team and without hesitation, he accepted the call to help manage the squad.

“I’m always happy to serve the Philippines. Serving the national team is always a good experience,” he said on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Garcia said he gladly accepted the opportunity to render his service to the team again after acting as Yeng Guiao’s lead deputy during the qualifiers and the FIBA World Cup proper in 2019.

“I’m happy na isinama ako because I get to learn new system under (project director) coach Tab (Baldwin) when we know he’s one of the best coaches internationally. So that’s added knowledge,” said the current head coach of Rain or Shine.

“I’m there to help them (Gilas) also and give them my thoughts.”

Just like Garcia, Black was also part of the Gilas Pilipinas coaching staff during the 2014 FIBA World Cup in Spain following the country’s silver medal finish in the FIBA Asia Men’s Championship in Manila a year earlier.

The 63-year-old Black was also at the helm when the Philippines won the basketball gold in the 2011 Southeast Asian Games in Jakarta.

Boyet Fernandez and Alton Lister, who formed part of the coaching staff during the second window held in a similar bubble in Bahrain, will still remain with Gilas.