BATTLE over before it could even begin?
While he intends to form the best team for the fourth window of the FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers, Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes said the nationals don’t need to win their match against Lebanon.
Does he know something that we don’t?
“We really don’t need to win the game against Lebanon. It’s going to be good for PR, it’s going to be good with my haters, but for the whole team objective, it’s not necessary,” Reyes said.
“We really need to continue to figure things out and learn and develop. I’m very optimistic that we will put the best team together come the games,” he added.
With a 2-2 record, the Filipino dribblers tangle with the Lebanese in Group E action in Beirut on Aug. 26 and Saudi Arabia three days later at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
Last Saturday, Reyes met for the first time with his brain thrust that included Ginebra strategist Tim Cone and laid out their plans for Gilas’ campaign expected to be bolstered by NBA player and Fil-Am Jordan Clarkson of the Utah Jazz.
“It was a long meeting. A lot of discussions were made, a lot of options, a lot of possibilities, and a lot of plans were discussed,” Reyes said. “We are going to continue meeting in the next few days and as I said, everything we are doing, there’s only one objective: to assemble the best team.”
Reyes insisted his sights are trained not on the “best players” despite the fact that he can pick players from 10 squads that have been eliminated in the PBA Philippine Cup, collegiate standouts, and overseas players.
“I want to focus on the term ‘team,’ not the best group of players or superstars but the best team,” he said. “We can continue doing it with the help of the PBA as we are in constant communication with the Board of Governors and Comm Willie (Marcial). Ganoon talaga, just doing our jobs quietly.”
The Philippine five wound up ninth and missed the quarterfinals of the FIBA Asia Cup last month in Jakarta for the first time since 2007.
With Reyes also calling the shots, Gilas failed to win the gold that matters most to Filipinos in the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam last May.
