Guiao, Reyes see tough road ahead
Of course, realistically, the odds are stacked against us
The trip to Serbia for the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) will be no picnic, former Gilas Pilipinas coaches Yeng Guiao and Chot Reyes said.
In a telephone conversation with Daily Tribune, Guiao said punching a ticket to the Tokyo Olympics will not be easy, but the Filipinos can spring a surprise if they will have a proper approach.
The Philippines made it to the OQT following the withdrawal of New Zealand last week.
They will compete against National Basketball Association (NBA) stalwarts Nikola Jokic, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Boban Marjanovic and the rest of the Serbians, who are ranked fifth in the latest FIBA ranking. Aside from Serbia, they would also collide with Dominican Republic, a country that can field NBA stars Al Horford and Karl-Anthony Towns if it wants to compete at full strength.
Guiao, who called the shots against the Serbians in the FIBA World Cup in 2019, said the road to Tokyo would never be easy.
“I think it’s a great opportunity for us to participate. Of course, realistically, the odds are stacked against us,” said Guiao, who serves as head coach of NLEX in the Philippine Basketball Association.
“I think we have to accept that fact.” Reyes agreed.
After all, the 57-year-old tactician knows what it takes to make a run at the big stage as he helmed the Gilas Pilipinas squad that saw action against elite teams like Croatia, Puerto Rico, Greece and Argentina in the pool play of the 2014 FIBA World Championships in Spain.
“It will be tough, but we will be very competitive,” Reyes said in a text message.
The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) has yet to release any names, but rising stars like Kai Sotto and Angelo Kouame are already being floated.
Sotto, the 7-foot-3 former Ateneo de Manila juniors standout who had a bugled stint in the NBA G League, was a cinch for a spot while Kouame might already be naturalized by the time the OQT rolls on 29 June.
Guiao said a combination of young and veteran players should carry the torch for the Filipinos.
“The best way to maximize that is to combine the veterans and young guys, those whom we feel can represent us in 2023,” said Guiao, adding that the country’s hosting of the FIBA World Cup in 2023 should always be considered by the SBP.
“You can combine the old and the new but put more emphasis on the new players because that is going to be a good preparation for 2023.”
Reyes, meanwhile, is confident that SBP program director Tab Baldwin will send the best team possible to the OQT, which stakes only one ticket to the Summer Games.
“I think we should send whichever team Coach Tab thinks is the best,” Reyes said.