Overtime

THAILAND’S FIBA STATUS REMAINS IN LIMBO; HEAD COACH LEFT UNINFORMED

With the FIBA qualifiers nearing its start this November, Thailand's head coach Chris Daleo is still left with uncertainty regarding the team's status.

/ 6 November 2020

The decorated coach, who has been stuck in the US since March, has not yet been informed whether the team will be participating in the second window of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers.

“They have not discussed their intentions with me. I’m in the US waiting to work,” said Daleo.

Moreover, Daleo added that “communication has been minimal,” with the Basketball Sports Association of Thailand.

Thailand Basketball League, Thai’s professional basketball league, has been able to resume its games with their country being able to control the situation brought by the pandemic.

“Thailand is playing in its local league. I don’t know anything else beyond that,” the head coach shared.

Following the decision of Korea to pull out from the qualifiers, Group A is left with the Philippines and Indonesia if Thailand will opt to skip the continental meet.

Thailand was supposed to face Gilas Pilipinas twice and Indonesia later this month in the bubble set in Manama, Bahrain.

With Thailand landing on the second spot in the Southeast Asian Games (Sea Games) and losing against Korea with a deficit of only seven points, Daleo lamented that the momentum has stopped for the team.

“It hurts me personally because Thailand basketball was growing and making great strides on the world stage.”