Gilas Pilipinas coach Yeng Guiao plans to have June Mar Fajardo and Greg Slaughter surrounded by shooters when it takes Kazakhstan at the start of the fifth window of the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers tomorrow at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Guiao made this plan clear after a recent practice session where Gilas in its final phase of preparation for the first of two home matches.
“I think with the Kazakhstan game, we have an advantage with our bigs,” said Guiao. “We’ll have I think more touches with our big men, Greg and June Mar. The way I see it (their lineup), they’re not that big but they’re strong.”
“I feel Greg and June Mar will have an advantage if we can get the ball to them deep in the paint. That’s how what tried to execute in practice,” added Guiao, who initially named 20 players to the national team training pool.
By mentioning the names of the reigning four-time PBA Most Valuable Player Fajardo and the 7-foot- Slaughter, Guiao is expected to name 10 other players for the game against Kazakhstan.
The visiting team, which arrived yesterday, has yet to formally submit its lineup, though Kazakhstan is expected to likely field almost the same lineup that the Philippines defeated in the Asian Games in Indonesia.
In that match, the Filipino rolled past Kazakhstan, 96-59, in the match held in Jakarta.
Guiao also said outside shooting will also be a key weapon against Kazakhstan, but is hoping for a better shooting display than how they performed during the fourth window against Iran in Tehran and versus Qatar here last September.
In an 81-73 loss to Iran, the Filipinos shot 5-of-27 from three-point territory, and were even miserable against the Qataris, going 3-of-32 in a 92-81 win that gave the Philippines a 5-3 record in Group F behind Australia (7-1) and Iran (6-2).
“I’m thinking about our three-point shooting because in the last window we shot badly,” said Guiao. “But with a little bit more time practicing together, the familiarity and some adjustment in the set plays, I hope it’ll be good.”
“So that’s the combination, if we can make our three-points shots, have our bigs as threat at the post, then we can get more spacing and advantage for the guards, who I feel can penetrate from the top.”
“We’ll balance the inside and outside game,” added Guiao.
Aside from the 6-foot-10 Fajardo, Guiao has in his arsenal of big guys like 6-foot-9 Japeth Aguilar, 6-foot-7 Beau Belga, 6-foot-8 JP Erram, 7-foot teenager Kai Sotto and 6-foot-10 Christian Standhardinger, a Filipino-German whose status in FIBA is naturalized.
As for the guards and forwards, Guiao has Jayson Castro, Paul Lee, LA Tenorio, Matthew Wright, Alex Cabagnot, Marcio Lassiter, Scottie Thompsom, Gabe Norwood, amateur Ricci Rivero, Troy Rosario and Arwind Santos.
