MANILA – Team Philippines men’s head coach Yeng Guiao was left puzzled as his 3-point gunners misfired anew in their 92-81 win over Qatar in the 2019 FIBA World Cup Qualifier Monday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Speaking to the press after the match, Guiao rued the Philippines’ woeful 3-of-22 shooting from the outside despite having the likes of Alex Cabagnot, Marcio Lassiter, Paul Lee, Stanley Pringle, and Matthew Wright in its roster.
In the first game of the second round of the qualifier – a 73-81 loss to Iran – the Philippines also went cold from the 3-point line with Cabagnot, Lassiter, Lee and Allein Maliksi combining for 5-of-28 shooting.
“It’s a continuation of our shooting woes against Iran. We still couldn’t make our 3-point shots in the first half,” said Guiao, whose team made only one outside shot in 15 tries in the first half, compared to Qatar’s 50-percent shooting.
“I think we were 6 percent in 3-point shooting. And to think these are the best 3-point shooters in the country. So it’s really an aberration,” the seven-time PBA champion coach added.
Guiao said they were fortunate Qatar was unable to sustain its torrid outside shooting in the second half while they were able to penetrate their opponent’s inside defense to turn things around.
“So, I (told them) we just have to hang on and play our defense. And they’re not going to sustain their 55-percent 3-point shooting,” said Guiao. “We just waited and we were very patient.”
The Philippine team, which improved to solo third place in Group F with a 5-3 win-loss slate, will return to action with a pair of home games against Kazakhstan on Nov. 30 and Iran on Dec. 3./PN
