Gilas five can only get better

GILAS Pilipinas can only get better after its campaign in the third window of the 2023 FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers.

“We are a young team, so the maturation (process) and ups and downs are expected,” coach Nenad Vučinić, who called the shots for the team in the third window, said.

“We’re happy with the result but we know we have to play a lot better in the Asia Cup,” he added.

Vučinić spoke after the Filipino cagers, mostly made up of young guns, whipped India 79-63 last Sunday night and finished with an even 2-2 card in Group A.

Along with New Zealand (4-0) and India (0-4), Gilas advanced to the second round where they will join the top three teams from Group C — Lebanon (4-1), Saudi Arabia (3-2), and Jordan (3-2) to form Group E.

The next qualifiers’ matches will be played in November.

The triumph served as a big redemption for Gilas after it absorbed a horror of a loss to powerhouse New Zealand 60-106 last Thursday.

The nationals are now training their sights on the FIBA Asia Cup set from July 12 to 24 in Indonesia.

Coach Chot Reyes, the concurrent program director, will take over at the Gilas helm anew in the Asia tilt where the core of the squad that saw action in the last window are expected to suit up.

Aside from some of his players at TNT, Reyes is also looking at Thirdy Ravena, Bobby Ray Jr., and Ricci Rivero to beef up the Philippine five.

Seven-foot-3 center Kai Sotto is unlikely to join the team, according to Reyes.

Gilas is bracketed with New Zealand and India in Group D along with Lebanon in the Asia Cup.

Vučinić said they have to find ways and hold their ground on defense to make up for their lack of size.

“We’re playing a little bit unbalanced as a team. We don’t really have enough size and big guys that we can rotate. We’re playing Will Navarro out of position as a big guy, so it is difficult because of the composition of the team,” he said.

“We cannot think of that anymore. We have played with the same line-up last month as well and we have to continue to try to find ways to make up for the lack of size and probably have to go on the defensive end.”