KAILANGANG pumutok sa labas ang Gilas Pilipinas upang makasabay sa karamihan sa top basketball powers sa nalalapit na FIBA World Cup.
Ito ang binigyang-diin ni national coach Yeng Guiao sa Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum sa Amelie Hotel- Manila, kung saan sinabi niya na sa mga laro na na-pagwagian ng mga Pinoy sa kanilang training camp sa Spain at sa kanilang two tune-ups laban sa bumibisitang Australian pro ballclub ay ang magandang perimeter shooting ang naging ‘common denominator’.
“When we’re shooting well, we win games. When we’re shooting well, it becomes a little bit easier to win games,” wika ni Guiao sa weekly forum, kung saan sinamahan siya nina Gilas captain Gabe Norwood at team manager Gabby Cui.
“That’s exactly true in the tune-up games that we played. Noong Sunday ang sama ng shooting natin, hindi natin tinalo ang Australia. First time, maganda ang shooting natin, tinalo natin sila,” anang national coach, patungkol sa friendly games kontra Adelaide 36ers.
Nariyan din ang 10-day training camp sa mga lungsod ng Guadalajara at Malaga, na kinabilangan ng isang pocket tournament na nagtampok sa world no. 2 Spain.
“It’s the same way in Spain. The only bad game we played was the game against Congo when we shot really bad from the outside. But the three games that we won in Spain, we were really shooting well,” ani Guiao, na binigyang-diin na nagawang manalo ng Gilas sa kabila ng pagkawala nina top gunners Marcio Lassiter at Roger Pogoy.
Dahil sa MCL sprain na kanyang tinamo sa PBA Commissioner’s Cup playoffs, si Lassiter ay nasibak sa official 12-man roster na kinabibilangan nina Andray Blatche, June Mar Fajardo, Troy Rosario, Japeth Aguilar, Pogoy, Norwood, Mark Barroca, Paul Lee, Raymund Almazan, comebacking Kiefer Ravena, at Gilas newcomers Robert Bolick at CJ Perez.
Si Pogoy ang tanging natural shooter sa koponan sa pagkawala nina Lassiter at Matthew Wright, isa pang injured player.
Bagama’t bahagyang nababahala, si Guiao ay kumpiyansa sa kanyang koponan.
“Crucial ang outside shooting natin, pero I feel these guys can step up when the time comes,” anang Gilas coach sa forum na itinataguyod ng San Miguel Corp., Braska Restaurant, Amelie Hotel, at Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).
Ang Gilas ay nasa Group D, kasama ang Serbia, Italy at Angola. Aalis ang koponan patungong Foshan, China sa Huwebes at makakasagupa ang Azurri sa opening day ng meet sa Sabado.
Nakatakdang manood si Presidente Rodrigo Duterte, tutungo sa Beijing sa Miyerkoles para sa official state visit, sa Gilas-Italy game.
“As of now we’re working with the Presidential Office and with the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP), making sure that he (Duterte) gets good seats to support and cheer the Philippines,” ani Cui. “We’re really happy and looking forward to having the president watch us there. We really appreciate his support.”
Aniya, gumagawa na sila ng paraan para personal na makaharap ng koponan ang Chief Executive.
“Definitely, we’ll find a way to have him (Duterte) meet the team. We will have it schedule with the Presidential Staff. They’ll coordinating with the SBP as of now,” dagdag ng Gilas team manager.
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