Defense now on Gilas Pilipinas main course
SAUDI ARABIA again looked like a walk in the park for a national men’s basketball team that went 2-0 on the road in the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) World Cup Asia qualifiers.
Gilas Pilipinas’s defense clicked to compliment a modest offense and the result was a 76-63 beating of the Saudis in their home court at the King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah at dawn Monday.
“Obviously, we’re very happy with the result. We focused really on our defense and we were able to stop their players,” Gilas head Coach Chot Reyes said. “I think the result that we were able to hold them below 70 points speaks well of our ability to defend.”
Talk about defense and 7-foot3 Kai Sotto was tops in that department. He made five of Gilas’s seven blocks against the Saudis, who were miserable with a 28 of 66 shooting to the Filipinos’ 27 of 61.
Roger Pogoy and Dwight Ramos had 13 points each while Sotto got 11 points and nine rebounds for Gilas, which played Saudi Arabia fresh from dealing Jordan its first home loss in four years, 74-66, in Amman only two days ago.
CJ Perez scored all 10 points in second half and Scottie Thompson added nine points and nine rebounds for the Philippine team that routed Saudi Arabia, 84-46, at home last August with Utah Jazz star Jordan Clarkson bringing his act to the Mall of Asia Arena.
Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) executive director Sonny Barrios welcomed Gilas achievement as he emphasized that Reyes and his deputies Tim Cone and Jong Uichico are mastering the team’s defense.
“There is an old saying that there’s an off day in offense but none in the defensive end,” Barrios said. “All you have to do is to exert an effort.”