THE Gilas Pilipinas national team training pool’s preparations for the FIBA World Cup shifted to high gear over the weekend.
For national coach Chot Reyes, team building will be a key element in their build-up for the blue-ribbon world cage spectacle the Philippines is co-hosting with Japan and Indonesia from Aug. 25 to Sept. 10.
“Team building for me is a very serious business and we always tell the players this is teamwork,” Reyes said. “When we talk about teamwork, (we discuss) not only what we do on the floor but a lot off the floor, and my thinking is a lot of the things we do off the floor will show up on the floor.
“That’s the reason for the pool. I know a lot of people are saying, ‘Why don’t you pick your players already? (Or) have a definite lineup already?” he added.
Despite a nearly 22-hour travel from Manila to the capital city of Tallinn– with a layoff in Istanbul– via Turkish Airlines, Gilas held a light workout at the Nord Spordiklubi Complex just before dinner last Friday.
The Philippine five spent four days during a training camp at the Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba.
The nationals will tackle the national teams of Estonia and Finland, along with Lithuania’s 21-Under quintet.
Reyes insisted he is playing with the cards he’s dealt with.
“That’s the reason why in our experience coaching the national team for such a long time, there are always gonna be injuries and other circumstances and that will prevent other players from participating in training and tournaments. That’s the reason for the pool,” Reyes said.
“We just go to the guys who are healthy. Our attitude is, ‘We don’t worry about who’s not here, but work with who’s here.’”
Naturalized forward Justin Brownlee had to undergo a non-basketball medical procedure in the United States and will go straight to Estonia.
Aside from Brownlee, prized 7-foot-3 big man Kai Sotto and NBA standout Jordan Clarkson of the Utah Jazz still have yet to join the squad.
Naturalized big man Ange Kouame will also join the squad after his graduation from Ateneo on June 30.
Hard hit by injuries, four players in TNT’s Roger Pogoy (fractured right pinky finger), the Tropang Giga’s Calvin Oftana (calf), and overseas-based Ray Parks Jr. (wrist) and Jordan Heading (back) did not join the pool in Europe.
Those who made the trip were reigning PBA MVP Scottie Thompson of Ginebra and teammates Japeth Aguilar and Jamie Malonzo, former six-time winner June Mar Fajardo of San Miguel Beer and Beerman CJ Perez, Meralco’s Chris Newsome, JP Erram of TNT, AJ Edu, Thirdy Ravena, Kiefer Ravena, and Rhenz Abando.
Gilas was drawn with Italy, Dominican Republic, and Angola in Group A of the World Cup.
