FORMER national coach Yeng Guiao is convinced the availability of players will spell the big difference in Gilas Pilipinas’ coming campaign in the FIBA World Cup.
“Para sa akin, una diyan is availability. Kasi kapag available ka and you are able to practice, ang laking bagay noon sa sa pagje-jell ng team,” Guiao said recently on the Power and Play program hosted by former PBA Commissioner Noli Eala.
“Kahit na talented ka, kung dadating ka na one-week na lang before the tournament, mahihirapan iyong coach na i-blend ka,” he added.
The Philippine five is set to see action in a pocket tournament in China where it will play Lebanon, Iran, and Senegal from Aug. 2 to 6.
That’s just fine for Guiao, whose Rain or Shine squad will represent the country in the Jones Cup.
“First week of August, mayroon din silang exhibition games sa China. Iyon ang priority nila over sa Jones Cup. Iba naman iyong idea ni coach Chot (Reyes). Para sa kanya, mas maganda na iyong mga Chinese teams ang makalaban nila,” Guiao said.
“Iyong matatangkad at iyong mga experienced na rin. It’s hard to second guess, depende iyan sa kung anong strategy ni coach Chot.”
Guiao also gave plaudits to the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas and the pro league for giving their all-out support to the Filipino cagers in the blue-ribbon world cage spectacle the country is co-hosting with Japan and Indonesia.
“Noong time namin, dalawang linggo lang yata iyong preparation namin,” he said. “Ito ngayon, in fairness to the SBP and to the PBA, ngayon nagbawas tayo ng isang conference para sa World Cup.”
Gilas lost its first two tune-up games against Estonia and Finland before traveling to Kaunas, where it won back-to-back matches against the Ukraine Under-20 squad and fell to a Lithuanian selection team.
