GILAS WINDS UP PREPARATIONS WITH 5 FRIENDLIES IN 6 DAYS
Gilas Pilipinas is back in Spain, hoping to draw the best from the last five tune-up matches the team is playing in preparation for the FIBA World Cup that fires off Aug. 30 in six Spanish cities.
The Nationals play five friendlies in six days starting 8:30 p.m. Tuesday (early Wednesday morning, Manila time) against the Basque Country autonomous national team, also known as Euzkadi, in San Sebastian.
It’s uncertain whether coach Chot Reyes will now stick only with his Final 12 named Monday. The Gilas lineup for the World Cup are naturalized player Andray Blatche, Jimmy Alapag, Jayson Castro, LA Tenorio, Paul Lee, Gary David, Jeff Chan, Gabe Norwood, Marc Pingris, Ranidel de Ocampo, Japeth Aguilar and June Mar Fajardo.
Shaken by blowout losses to Australia and Ukraine in the Antibes Basketball Tournament, the Nationals are out to regain their winning ways and rebuild their confidence going to the World Cup proper.
“Wish we could’ve ended our France stint on a higher note but that’s exactly why we play these games,” said Gilas assistant coach Josh Reyes on his Twitter account following their 50-point rout by Ukraine.
“Got to keep learning and keep on playing teams that are much better than us so that we can have a chance to reach their level,” Reyes also tweeted.
Gilas Pilipinas takes on a lowly regarded team before going up against Angola also in San Sebastian on Aug. 21, Mexico in Vitoria on Aug. 23, Dominican Republic in Guadalajara on Aug. 24 and Egypt also in Guadalajara on Aug. 25.
The Nationals should hurdle Euzkadi or they would have a tough time re-establishing momentum for the World Cup.
The Basque Country team is not affiliated with FIBA, and is thus just playing friendly matches with FIBA teams.
Coach Pablo Laso and his team have had a losing record in their friendlies. Last year, Euzkadi was swept in a three-game series by Tunisia. In 2012, it dropped two games to Senegal and, in the previous year, was demolished by Argentina, 92-28. (SB)
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