LACK of preparations visibly haunted Gilas Pilipinas in its duel with Lebanon three days ago in the fourth window of the FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers in Beirut.
As a result of cramming and having only few practices together that is crucial in team chemistry, the nationals committed 21 turnovers, spelling doom in their heartrending 81-85 loss to the Lebanese.
Fil-Am NBA standout Jordan Clarkson showed the way for Gilas with a game-high 27 points he laced with six rebounds and seven assists, but he could not really play beautiful jazz with his new teammates, turning the ball over four times.
Whether the Filipinos could lick their wounds fast and recover will be known tonight when they take on Saudi Arabia in Group E action at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
The match is set at 7 p.m., with Gilas, favored to hurdle the Saudi Arabians, raring to end a string of setbacks that have armchair pundits up in arms.
Saudi Arabia dropped a 65-80 defeat at the hands of powerhouse New Zealand also last Friday.
“We just gonna take it on the head and go back to the drawing board,” Clarkson said. “We got Saudi Arabia next, and we got to be prepared and try to get a win at home.”
Despite the loss that dropped Gilas to 2-3, coach Chot Reyes insisted his charges fought hard against their upstart foes.
“I thought we battled, and we battled hard. We competed. Unfortunately, we had too many turnovers,” Reyes said, adding “21 turnovers really were the big difference in this ballgame and that’s just a result of us not yet as familiar with each other as we’d like to be.”
Reyes was expected to name his final 12-man line-up for the Saudi Arabia game at press time last night.
Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas President Al Panlilio said the decision on whether to tweak the Philippine five suiting up against the Saudis hinges on Reyes and his brain thrust.
“Chot might keep the same 12,” Panlilio said. “But I don’t know. It’s the coaches’ call on Monday.”
Aside from Clarkson, a former NBA Sixth Man of the Year winner, those who saw action against Lebanon were 7-foot-3 center Kai Sotto, reigning PBA MVP Scottie Thompson and Ginebra teammate Japeth Aguilar, Chris Newsome of Meralco, NLEX’s Calvin Oftana, Jamie Malonzo of NorthPort, Japan B.League imports Kiefer and Thirdy Ravena, Dwight Ramos, Bobby Ray Parks Jr., and University of the Philippines standout Carl Tamayo.
Tamayo will not play against Saudi Arabia due to his commitment to the Fighting Maroons’ pre-season preparation in South Korea, with pro league free agent Roosevelt Adams reportedly making the final 12 after getting cut in the game Lebanon.
Players from the Lebanon final 12 can be replaced by those initially included in the 24-man national team training pool such as Kevin Alas of the Road Warriors, the Bolts’ Raymond Almazan, Arvin Tolentino of the Kings, and young guns Kevin Quiambao and Francis Lopez.
Although ranked 80th in the world, Saudi Arabia is capable of pulling off an upset behind the likes of guard Khalid M Abdel Gabar and forward Mathna Almarwani in its bid to hike its 1-4 mark.
“So, if we get some more time or more practice time together, then we should be able to address that (unfamiliarity),” Reyes said. “But like I said, I’m very happy with the way we played, gave it our best shot. Unfortunately, the results didn’t come out our way.”