GILAS Pilipinas finally arrived home following its three-week training camp in Europe.
But soon after, the team leaves again for a five-day pocket tournament in China.
After a three-week stay in the country to continue its preparations for the FIBA World Cup, Gilas is overseas-bound anew to play tune-up games against three teams also set to see action in basketball's biggest stage.
The meet is set August 2-6 in China where the Philippine team faces the likes of Iran, Lebanon, and Senegal, some three weeks before the World Cup officially kicks off simultaneously in Manila, Japan, and Indonesia.
The pocket tournament remains part of Gilas' training camp as it gears up for its third straight appearance in the quadrennial showcase.
The team just came home Monday from its European sojourn, which satisfied coach Chot Reyes following the strides gained by the team.
"It definitely showed the improvements," said the national coach. "Like I said postgame, what was truly impressive was the effort of the players, effort to defend, dive for loose balls, but also the effort to play together. I think that's very important."
Gilas evened its record at 3-3 in the six games it played in Europe, initially losing its first two games in Tollinn, Estonia against the host and Finland.
But it won three of its four games when it moved to Kaunas, Lithuania, against various national teams of the host country, including a 125-102 victory over a Lithuanian side bound for the Summer Universiade to be held later this month.
Following a brief break, the men's team resumes practice on Thursday.
