Coach Yeng Guiao is hoping that the good things he has seen during Gilas Pilipinas’ preparation will translate into positive results in the FIBA World Cup.
Guiao has been pleased with how the team’s progress, particularly in the Gilas camp in Spain where it won three of four tune-ups against Congo and Ivory Coast.
He also expressed the way some of the players have been able to fill up to void left by Jayson Castro, who skipped the World Cup, and injured shooter Marcio Lassiter, things that will help him decide on his 12-man roster for the Group D matches.
But Guiao also said that positive won’t matter if things don’t go as planned by the time they face Italy, Serbia and Angola in Foshan, China.
“I hope it becomes natural and consistent. The problem is baka yung nakita natin sa Spain, yung nakita natin sa practice hindi mangyari sa China and that would be a problem,” Guiao said during Gilas’ sendoff at the Meralco Multi-Purpose Hall.
“But I’m seeing good things in practice, I saw good things in Spain and I hope things will help us,” added Guiao.
Gilas is set to play Australian club Adelaide 36ers in a pair of tune-up matches on Friday and Sunday at the Meralco Gym, the performance of the team to play a factor in completing the final 12.
Guiao had earlier said that only two spots remain at stake for the World Cup, though privy of those who are already sure of making it to China.
“Ang importante sa ngayon is the overall chemistry of the team,” said Guiao, who is banking on a balance of inside and outside scoring, though he appears to focus more on the latter.
“We also need some balance of inside and outside scoring. That is why when Lassiter got injured, the first thing we thought of is Matthew Wright because in international competition kailangan mo talaga kumonekta sa labas. Kung di ka kumonekta sa labas, patay ka.
“But the reason why I’m happy with the Spain trip is they can connect outside under pressure. Yung nawala kina Jayson, yung nawala kina Marcio, parang nandiyan naman kina Paul (Lee), kina CJ (Perez), kina (Robert) Bolick. The rest of the guys can deliver in terms of scoring,” he added. (Jonas Terrado)