Gilas Pilipinas: Mark Dickel is interim coach for FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers 1st window

TNT KaTropa head coach Mark Dickel will call the shots for Gilas Pilipinas Men as an interim when the Philippines opens its campaign at the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers 1st window in February.

Dickel, who has led the KaTropa to the playoffs (including one finals appearance) in his 3 conferences as active coaching consultant, was selected as interim head coach for the nationals.

Among the choices for head coach were Sandy Arespacochaga and Serbian coach Nenad Trunic.

The 43-year-old Dickel played for almost two decades for various club teams across the world, but mostly for New Zealand’s NBL squads.

He is a two-time New Zealand NBL assists champion, and a former Eurocup All-Star.

Gilas will face Thailand on February 20 at home before flying to Indonesia on February 23.

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) will then name a permanent head coach later this year.