GILAS Pilipinas now hopes all the hard work they put in during preparation—no matter how limited—will translate into game.
The Filipino cagers face the Macau Black Bears tonight in a send-off duel at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Game time is at 7:30 as the Nationals reach the crucial part of their build-up for the FIBA Asia Cup set for early next month.
The Philippine five leaves for Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Wednesday for the Aug. 5 to 7 continental tourney formerly known as the ABC Championship and the FIBA Asia Championship.
Banged up by the grueling and recently-concluded PBA Philippine Cup finals, Gilas mainstays June Mar Fajardo and Calvin Oftana will sit up the friendly duel to rest and give time to heal their respective injuries—calf and sprained ankles.
“Mga ganoong opportunity kasi once in a lifetime lang iyon. Alam mo naman ang mga Pilipino, sinong gusto nila, gusto nila ipasok, pero it’s from the bosses kasi and from coach Tim. So, I need to serve our country, para sa bayan nga naman,” Oftana said.
Added the 6-foot-10, reigning pro league MVP Fajardo: “Baka hindi muna ako maglaro (sa tune-up). Sa ngayon, hindi ko muna isipin. Deserve ko naman siguro i-celebrate iyong championship. Saka ko na iisipin iyon.”
The likes of naturalized star Justin Brownlee, former MVP Scottie Thompson, Chris Newsome, CJ Perez, Dwight Ramos, AJ Edu, Kevin Quiambao, and Carl Tamayo will be counted upon by National coach Tim Cone to deliver.
Perez, who does not mind seeing action for Gilas despite also being a part of the Beermen who regained the all-Filipino diadem, said answering the call for flag and country excites him.
“Hindi mo maiisip iyong pagod kapag nanalo ka. Kapag nanalo ka talagang kahit na may susunod na game, excited ka,” he said. “Excited ka kasi para bayan, siyempre matagal-tagal na rin tayong naglalaro para sa Gilas.
“So, I’m always excited para sa bayan. I’m grateful and honored na i-represent iyong country.”
Gilas intends to pull off a show for true-blue cage fans before it shows its real worth in Asia.
