Loads shall be using on June Mar Fajardo (No. 15) and the Gilas Pilipinas bigs. —FIBA
Just a few days earlier than the Fiba (Worldwide Basketball Federation) World Cup kicks off, Chot Reyes and Gilas Pilipinas obtained a really feel of what competitors within the match would really feel like.
“This sport actually made us really feel that we’re right here, we’re within the World Cup,” Reyes mentioned after the Philippines dropped a 102-87 match towards World No. 18 Montenegro late Sunday. “The form of staff we’re taking part in—they’ve been with a staff for a very long time, with nice expertise and every thing else: Clean system offensively and defensively.”
The Montenegrins’ victory halted a three-game profitable run of Gilas Pilipinas heading into the World Cup that kicks off on Friday, however Reyes mentioned there was a lot to take from the sport because the staff prepares to battle towards among the world’s finest squads.
“I like how we competed with them your entire first half. We simply had a letdown defensively in that third quarter and … that’s why we play these video games—to know what else we will enhance on,” Reyes mentioned in a dispatch launched by the nationwide federation on Monday.
The 2 groups had been neck and neck for the primary two durations at PhilSports Area till a third-quarter Montenegro fightback led by Chicago Bulls middle Nikola Vucevic and naturalized guard Kendrick Perry.
And that’s one lesson Reyes is hoping was seared within the minds of his prices.
“After we began the third quarter with three straight turnovers after which [Montenegro made] … an 8-0 run, that turned the tide,” he identified.
“After we give good, high quality groups like Montenegro momentum, a lead like that’s going to be very, very arduous to get well. Only a temporary letdown and also you see what occurs,” he added.
Extra contributions
Jordan Clarkson led the way in which with 27 factors, June Mar Fajardo chipped in 19 and Dwight Ramos 13, however their performances alone didn’t assist Gilas lengthen the profitable streak they began placing collectively throughout a pocket match in China.
And they’ll want greater than the trio’s contributions towards tall and athletic groups like Group A foes the Dominican Republic and Italy, which is why Reyes is hoping that he may get manufacturing from his whole squad.
“Our bigs actually have their work minimize out [for themselves],” he mentioned. “They need to work on penetration, they’ve to guard the rim and nonetheless be capable of come out, shut out on their males—the bigs—after they’re capturing from the surface.”
“But it surely’s not completely their duty, their teammates have to have the ability to assist as properly and rotate to have the ability to shut these guys down,” he added.
Gilas had yet one more probability to use tweaks in an in-game setting by way of a pleasant towards No. 31 Mexico, a aspect that boasts velocity, explosiveness and a bevy of capturing threats.
The 12 Guerreros are coming off wins over Egypt and Lebanon—one in every of Gilas’ rivals for the lone Olympic Video games berth for Asian groups. INQ
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