[ad_1]
Playing with a single opponent in the second window of the 2021 FIBA Asian Cup qualifiers is not going to make things easier for a young Gilas Pilipinas team that is still struggling to be more cohesive as a unit.
“I can say that the preparation will be simpler, but not easier,” said head coach Jong Uichico in a text message on Saturday.
In the official schedule published on the FIBA website, only two games are on Gilas’ schedule as he heads to Bahrain for the second window of the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup.
Gilas’ matches against South Korea and Indonesia, originally scheduled for 28 and 29, will move to the next window on February 18 and 21, respectively.
That leaves Thailand, a team Gilas was supposed to face in the first window last February. Both games will be played on November 27 and 30 at 9 pm (Manila time).
In an appearance in Power and play Introduced by former PBA commissioner Noli Eala on Saturday, Uichico said Thais have the upper hand in chemistry and familiarity.
The team will not feature Thai-American Tyler Lamb and head coach Chris Daleo, but Thailand is still expected to lead a fully professional team that has played and grown together in recent years.
“Compared to our Gilas team that goes, they have played longer because they are a club team. We played them last year at the Southeast Asian Games,” he said. “They have been together for so long and over the years they have improved. They are a cohesive unit and we are entering with new players, so we have to prepare in double time.”
Gilas’ main goal, naturally, is for the group to become a cohesive unit in time for Bahrain, as talent will not be an issue here.
“In terms of talent, we have no problem,” he said. “How they channel those talents that they have in a team atmosphere, that’s our goal. Because in their teams, they often had the ball in their hand.
“If they can channel that talent towards the team’s goal, this team can be quite loaded and it’s a great exposure for them,” he continued. “In other words, they need to learn to play without basketball.”
Gilas, who was supposed to play four consecutive games before the FIBA time change, will head to Bahrain with a 14-man lineup.
The pool, originally at 16, already cut Allyn Bulanadi after the swingman sustained an injury during training camp at the Inspire Sports Academy in Laguna.
“We have 16 right now, but Allyn got injured. So we have 15,” he said. “Actually, we only bring 14 in Bahrain.”
Currently, the group is made up of Isaac Go, twins Mark and Mike Nieto, Rey Suerte, Jaydee Tungcab, Juan and Javi Gomez de Liaño, Kobe Paras, Dwight Ramos, Dave Ildefonso, Justin Baltazar, William Navarro Calvin Oftana, Kemark Carino and Angelo Kouame. However, Kouame’s naturalization is still being processed, making him the top candidate to be the final cut.
Regardless, Uichico said he likes what he’s seeing at camp right now from the pool before the next window.
“We are confident, the players are confident because we know they will be fighting,” he said. “They know they can win. The progress in training has been very positive, so our level of confidence is also growing.”
