MANILA – Yeng Guiao will bank on his and his players’ familiarity to each other as he steers Gilas Pilipinas in the Asian Games men’s basketball that starts Aug. 16 in Palembang, Indonesia.
Due to insufficient time to prepare the nationals’ head coach was forced to get players who are familiar with his system.
“We will represent the country to the best of our ability. Our objective is to make our country proud,” Guiao told a news conference on Sunday. “One reason na gusto ko iyong guys who are familiar with me is lack of time.”
“They know my system, they know my personality, and I know them in return,” he said. “Mas mapapabilis iyong chemistry, iyong flow ng team, iyong cohesion ng team.”
From the 14-man Gilas roster, nine have played or are still playing under Guiao’s system – Gabe Norwood, Maverick Ahanmisi, Chris Tiu, Beau Belga, Raymond Almazan, James Yap, Paul Lee, Asi Taulava, and Celedonio Trollano.
Those who are new to Guiao are Filipino-foreigners Stanley Pringle and Christian Standhardinger, John Paul Erram, and Gilas Pilipinas cadets Ricci Rivero and Kobe Paras.
“Noong nag-usap kami, we wanted to get the players na kabisado na namin,” said Carlos Garcia, Guiao’s assistant coach. “Kay Stanley (Pringle), the way the system goes, bagay siya. Erram and Christian are a big boost sa frontline. So we have a good lineup.”
“We want to do better than a seventh-place finish. That’s the first thing we’re looking at,” Garcia added. “Knowing coach Yeng, his motivation skills, talagang mamo-motivate niya iyong players to work hard and play hard, so I guess it’s gonna be exciting.”/PN
