Gilas peaking in time
Gilas Pilipinas is peaking just in time for the start of next week’s FIBA Asia in Changsha, China, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) said yesterday.
Butch Antonio, deputy director for SBP’s international affairs, said yesterday that head coach Tab Baldwin was satisfied with the outcome of the week-long training camp in Mactan, Cebu as the national team gets ready for the kick off of the Olympic qualifying tournament on Wednesday.
“Coach Tab was very happy with what happened there in Cebu,” said Antonio, four days before Gilas faces Palestine on Wednesday.
“For him, the team was really getting better. All expectations from the camp were generally met, including getting familiar more with the system that coach Tab has put,” he said.
This version of Gilas 3.0 had a total of seven practice sessions at the Lapu-Lapu gymnasium in Mactan, including twice-a-day training in three of the four days that Baldwin conducted scrimmages.
Like the US-born New Zealand national Baldwin, Antonio refused to give percentage on where the national team is now with four days before it plays its first game in the FIBA Asia where only the champion team gets an outright berth to the Rio Olympics.
“That’s subjective (giving percentage). We can’t go to probability and statistics,” Antonio said. “But the team is ready... of course we’re going to be fighting right from the start of the tournament.”
“Coach Tab did all the fine tuning and all the necessary things the team has to improve. We’re able to do that in Cebu, minus the distraction and of course the traffic,” added Antonio.
After spending time with their respective families in their day off yesterday, the national team will return to the Meralco gym in Ortigas, Pasig City for its final team practice session.
Antonio said that the three
players nursing injuries – namely Calvin Abueva (sprained ankle), Matt Ganuelas-Rosser (flu) and Jayson Castro – are expected to attend the training session.
Also, the health condition of the 6-foot-11 Blatche is no longer a concern for Baldwin, as he had lost a few pounds during the training camp.
“Andray is getting better, he’s ok. He’ll be fine,” said Antonio of the 6-foot-11 naturalized Filipino, who played for the Washington Wizards
and the Brooklyn Nets in the NBA.
The team is scheduled to leave for China on Monday at 10:55 a.m., and will hold an evening practice to allow the players get familiarized with the playing conditions of the Changsha Social Work College’s Gymnasium.
“Mas magiging maganda na
din ang takbo ng team kapag nakapag-ensayo na sa Changsha. Importante din kasi na masanay tayo sa basketball court dun eh,” said Abueva – a first timer in the national team. Gabe Norwood also declined to rank the progress of the squad and it will show when they start playing.