By Waylon Galvez
With exactly a month before the 2018 FIBA 3×3 World Cup, national team head coach Ronnie Magsanoc has raised concern on their readiness since the members of the team have yet to practice due to conflict in schedule and time.
Magsanoc disclosed to Bulletin-Tempo yesterday that he plans to sit down with GlobalPort star Stanley Pringle, San Miguel Beer rookie Christian Standhardinger and TNT KaTropa duo of Troy Rosario and RR Pogoy to sort out the pressing matter.
The event is set on June 8-12 event at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.
“We’ll discuss this with the players, we’ll ask what time and when they are available. Hopefully we can schedule it right away,” said the former pro league star and a member of the PBA’s 25 Greatest Players.
“Time, of course, is not on our side. With a month to go before our first game, preparing the team is one of the key factors. But we’ll do our best to compete against the best teams,” added the concurrent assistant of Meralco tactician Norman Black.
Of the four aspirants named by the PBA, only the 6-foot-6 Rosario has experienced playing in a FIBA 3×3 tourney. He also had teamed up with Pogoy and Standhardinger at the national team for several times.
But Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) President Al Panlilio is confident that Pringle, Pogoy and Rosario can make their damage using their quickness and shooting while the 6-foot-8 Standhardinger could provide them the inside presence.
“This is a competitive team, lalaban ‘to hanggang dulo (it’ll fight ‘till the end). Hopefully, our countrymen would support us too, because playing in front of a cheering Filipino crowd will definitely boost the confidence of the players,” he said.
