Gilas Pilipinas is using the last few days of preparation for the FIBA World Cup on trying to figure out on how to hurdle Italy in their Group D opener this Saturday in Foshan, China.
Coach Yeng Guiao believes the Italy match will determine his team’s chances of making the second round knowing that beating Serbia is close to impossible and Gilas having a strong opportunity to beat Angola in the group stage.
Guiao described that he and Gilas are on “tunnel vision” with regards to trying to map a gameplan to hurdle the Azzurri, who will be led by NBA players Danilo Gallinari and Marco Belinelli.
“Yung chances natin kay Serbia medyo mas maliit kesa sa chances natin kay Italy,” said Guiao said during Tuesday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at the Amelie Hotel in Manila.
“Our focus, resources, time, scouting on the team where we have a greater percentage of winning. Kasi kahit matalo tayo sa Serbia, kung nanalo tayo sa Italy at tinalo natin ang Angola, okay pa tayo,” he added.
The top two teams in the group advance to the second round of the World Cup set in Wuhan, enhancing Gilas’ chances of securing qualification to the Tokyo Olympics as the highest-ranked Asian team.
A loss may dim the Philippines’ bid for the Olympics and will be relegated in the classification round for 17th to 32nd place in the Chinese capital of Beijing.
Italy is already in China playing several tune-up games against Serbia and New Zealand, with Gallinari and 6-foot-8 Euroleague veteran Luigi Datome already seeing action after missing several tune-up games due to injuries.
“We are going to face a stronger team with Gallinari and Datome playing,” Guiao said. “But more or less, we’ve familiarized ourselves with what we do, we’ve familiarized ourselves with the individual plays and we’re just gonna reinforce that in the coming days.
Guiao is hoping that the possibility of Italy lacking the information on Gilas’ pre-World Cup buildup will be advantageous.
“We’re hoping we haven’t been as scouted by them, kasi ang makikita lang nila kung titignan mga films natin yung sa Spain at siguro some from the (FIBA World Cup Qualifiers) windows,” he said.
“But other than, I don’t think they’re gonna see the closed-door games (against the Adelaide 36ers) at sila nakikita natin sila maglaro. I hope it’s an advantage.
“But that’s why we are trying to do our homework, that’s why we are trying to give ourselves an advantage. We haven’t been as scouted as we have scouted them. So I hope they don’t know us a bit about us.”
Gilas concludes its practice session at home on Wednesday at the Meralco Gym before heading to China Thursday morning for the World Cup. The team will first touch down in Guangzhou before heading to Foshan by train.
Upon arrival, Guiao and the team will immediately hold practices in preparation for the opener. (Jonas Terrado)
