By Waylon Galvez
The type of physicality Gilas Pilipinas encountered in two tune up games against the national team of Jordan is what the Philippines will likely encounter when it clashes with Kazakhstan and Iran in the fifth window of the FIBA World Cup qualifiers starting next week.
The national team and the visiting Jordanians fought in a pair of highly physical matches.
Jordan won the first game 98-92 last Monday but the Filipinos rallied back from a 19-point deficit before play was called off late in the final frame with the Filipinos up by double digit last Wednesday at the Meralco gym in Quezon City.
The second game was stopped with Gilas ahead, 82-73, to prevent the situation from getting more volatile.
Gilas Pilipinas mentor Yeng Guiao likes the character that his players showed against a tough Jordan squad, particularly on the physicality of the game that he expects from Kazakhstan and Iran.
“This is a test of character,” said Guiao. “I felt that this is the kind of character that we need for a national team. PBA fouls are not fouls in international (competition).”
“You have to make that mental adjustment that PBA fouls are not the same as international fouls. That’s one thing that these series or these tune up games are going to help us,” he added.
Guiao himself showed a lot of intensity in the second game after he had a heated verbal exchange at the sideline against American coach Joseph Steibeng of Jordan that forced the visiting squad and Gilas Pilipinas management to stop the exhibition game.
Guiao, who doesn’t back down on anyone, reacted to Steibeng’s rude comments directed at him at the sideline after a play when a Jordan player threw the ball at Scottie Thompson following a foul.
“They were getting too rugged on us,” said Guiao. “Of course, it’s the responsibility of the referees to take control of the game, and it’s also my responsibility to keep my players safe.”
“The coach said he was going to take my ass. So I was challenging him to take my ass,” Guiao said.
“I just didn’t want to be bullied in our own country. They were bullying us all the way. We are here (in our country) and they’ll bully us. That should not happen,” he added.
