Compact pool for Gilas
Gilas Pilipinas coach Yeng Guiao believes that having a smaller training pool for the national team is ideal preparation for the FIBA World Cup this year in China.
Guiao said yesterday that sustaining the number to 14 or maybe adding two more players is the best setup, much like what they did during the sixth and last window of the World Cup qualifiers.
“I think this is the right formula for us, to have 14 to 15 players,” Guiao said. “From our experience, the most efficient way to do it is to have a smaller group.”
He added: “It’s a formula where you can really focus, develop a camaraderie, the culture and improve system. The more experience time you gather, it creates better judgment for the players when they’re on the court.”
Guiao said he has learned from experience that smaller is better in this case.
Having a bigger training pool during the fifth window resulted in setbacks to Kazakhstan and Iran, prompting Guiao to limit his pool of players to just 14 in the sixth window, including naturalized player Andray Blatche.
The result seems to validate the move.
Gilas defeated Qatar in Doha, 84-46, and Kazakhstan in Astana, 93-75, to finish with a 7-5 record in the preliminary round that helped secure the eighth slot for Asia in the World Cup this August.
This is the second straight time that the Philippines qualified to the World Cup following its first stint in 42 years during the 2014 World Cup in Spain where it won against Senegal.
“Personally, off hand… I’m very happy with my group of 14 now,” said Guiao.
“If there’s any change in the roster, it’s very minimal. I think a roster of 14 to 15 is good. We practice early, get tuneup games abroad that will strengthen the team in time for the World Cup,” said Guiao.
Aside from the 6-foot-11 Blatche, part of the 14-man pool of Gilas in the sixth window were Japeth Aguilar, Mark Barroca, Jayson Castro, Troy Rosario, Paul Lee, Marcio Lassiter, JP Erram, June Mar Fajardo, Gabe Norwood, Thirdy Ravena, Raymond Almazan, Scottie Thompson and Roger Pogoy.