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MANILA, Philippines – Yeng Guiao doubts that young players from the national team group will make it to the Gilas Pilipinas lineup for the FIBA 2023 World Cup, as he believes the team still needs players from the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) ). )
Guiao, who included PBA rookies CJ Perez and Robert Bolick on his World Cup squad last year, said younger players can compete in qualifying windows or even at the Southeast Asian Games.
“At certain levels, maybe you can use the younger players,” said Guiao during an online training seminar.
The World Cup, or even the Asian Games, is a completely different matter, said the NLEX coach.
“If you really want to win and the level of play is at least Asian, I think you should send your best teams and not just the younger or younger teams,” said Guiao.
Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) is beginning its preparation for the FIBA 2023 World Cup by bringing together a group of young players, starting with a “special draft” last year.
Isaac Go, Matt Nieto, Mike Nieto, Allyn Bulanadi and Rey Suerte were loaned to the national team by their mother teams. SBP then added Thirdy Ravena and Jaydee Tungcab to the list, and was then joined by brothers Juan and Javi Gómez de Liano, Dwight Ramos, Justine Baltazar and Dave Ildefonso before the first window of the FIBA Asia 2021 Cup qualifiers. in February.
The team was successful in their first game, defeating Indonesia, 100-70, in a qualifying game.
However, Guiao believes that the 2023 national team for the World Cup will still be made up of PBA players.
“That 2023 team, most of them are already playing in the PBA right now. Therefore, that team will be made up of the players who are already playing in the PBA right now,” Guiao said.
“The rookies we have today, let’s say those who have just come out of the Draft … They will be lucky if one or two of them make that 2023 national team,” he added.
Guiao said AJ Edu and Kai Sotto youth centers should be included in the team, but most other slot machines will likely go to PBA veterans.
“I don’t think these are the rookies we selected, or the rookies we will select this year … They will be too young and too raw to play in the 2023 World Cup,” he explained.
“Maturity will be questioned. Can they mature in one or two years?” added.
The NLEX coach made it clear that he has a high opinion of PBA rookies and those who are part of the national team group at the moment. For him, however, it is simply a matter of his willingness to play at the highest level of basketball.
“Ang dami mo pang dadaanan before you can say that these players will be able to play globally or even Asian level,” said Guiao. “As good as they are, I don’t think they’re ready for the 2023 World Cup.”
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