REVENGE or repeat?
That will be known when another chapter in the rivalry between Gilas Pilipinas and South Korea unfolds in less than two weeks in the 2023 FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Coach Chot Reyes gamely acknowledged the challenge their foes are set to pose.
“Not only are they (Koreans) coming for revenge, but they’re also coming for qualification and survival to get to the World Cup,” Reyes said in a recent online Philippine Sportswriters Association forum.
“I think we’re going to see a very different Korean team. We’ll see a lot of veterans in this team,” he added.
The Filipino cagers square off with the Koreans on Feb. 24 and 28. They will also collide with India on Feb. 25, and New Zealand two days later in a virtually no-bearing qualifiers since they already have a slot in the World Cup next year as one of the hosts.
It’s a different story for South Korea.
“I actually watched the two games (where we were) beaten by the Philippines in 2021,” South Korea’s Kim Sun-Hyung said on the FIBA website. “Now, it is time for revenge. I am ready and confident about beating them in the two games.”
An all-amateur Philippine side beat South Korea twice in last year’s Asia Cup qualifiers in Clark.
Reyes admitted he will take a page off former national tactician Tab Baldwin, but he remains wary of the Koreans bannered by Ra Gun-A (Ricardo Ratliffe).
“We’re going to take a lot from the game plan of coach Tab (Baldwin) kasi nanalo sila ng back-to-back,” Reyes said. “But as I’ve said, there’s a lot of different players sa team so we just have to be prepared.”
Spearheaded by Japan B. League standouts Thirdy Ravena and Dwight Ramos, along with Juan Gomez de Liaño, William Navarro, Jaydee Tungcab, Tzaddy Rangel, and naturalized player Ange Kouame, the national team training pool is gearing up for the first window at the Moro Lorenzo Sports Center in Katipunan.
The seven players will be boosted by players coming from reigning PBA Philippine Cup champion TNT, which is also preparing for the Governors Cup that resumes today also at the Big Dome.
Reyes said his charges’ focus is to become one cohesive unit.
“For now, our focus is on our team. The time will come when our focus is going to shift fully to Korea,” Reyes said.
“Ang ginawa namin muna is tingnan sino ang ipapadala, sino ang mga players and figure out what kind of team can match up well not only against South Korea but also New Zealand and India.”
