Team Phl to bank on shooting, transition play against tall odds
With a roster lacking in height, coach Yeng Guiao said they have to draw offensive firepower from their backcourt and wing players to be able to compete and hopefully win games in the 18th Asian Games men’s basketball competition starting Aug. 14 in Jakarta, Indonesia.
“We have no choice. All our bigs are not available at the moment. We have no Andray Blatche, we have no June Mar Fajardo. We have to make do with what we have. We’re hoping we have got scoring weapons in Paul Lee, Stanley Pringle, James Yap, Maverick Ahanmisi, Gabe Norwood and Chris Tiu,” said Guiao.
“They have to hit a shooting rhythm in order to compensate as we’ll surely have a hard time scoring at the post,” Guiao added.
The unavailability of Blatche, Fajardo and Greg Slaughter prompted Guiao to tap 45-yearold Asi Taulava for yet another tour of duty with the national team. The 6-foot-8 Fil-Tongan has been serving the national team since the 2002 Busan Asiad.
“But even Asi, he looks like a 5-foot-9 when he stands side by side with Hamed Haddadi,” said Guiao.
The returning national coach is thankful with the addition of San Miguel Beer center/forward Christian Standhardinger.
“He would be a big help,” said Guiao.
“Our bigs have to defend and get the rebounds. We have to rely on our backcourt and wings for scoring. But our bigs should score at least four to six points,” Guiao added.
Guiao insists outside shooting and transition play would give Team Phl the best opportunity to win games. But he says it won’t be easy.
“The other teams are deceptive. They’re big but quick,” said Guiao.
The Asiad-bound Nationals held their first practice session Monday night at the Meralco Gym, and Guiao liked what he saw.
“It’s very loose and the players were happy seeing each other,” said Guiao.
It’s a light workout especially as only 13 players came, with two of them – Poy Erram and Pringle – nursing slight injuries. Absent was Standhardinger, who was preparing for Game Six of the PBA Finals.