THE Olympic qualifying tournament will be a different animal.
Gilas Pilipinas coach Tim Cone admitted he expects his charges to have their hands full against some of the world’s top teams from July 2 to 7 in Latvia.
“I think it’s more about just evolving as a team and sinking their teeth deeper into the system that we’re running. We had seven days to prepare there which wasn’t too bad,” Cone said, referring to the first window of the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers. “We had like 14 practices because we were doing two (practices) a day for the most part and I think we ended up with 12 practices and two shooter rounds during that whole window and the two games.
“We have a true understanding, and our eyes are wide open, we know that playing in Europe is going to be a lot different than playing Taiwan and Hong Kong,” he added.
Out to show the way for the Filipino cagers are naturalized star Justin Brownlee, who will link up with reigning seven-time MVP June Mar Fajardo and former winner Scottie Thompson, Chris Newsome, Calvin Oftana, CJ Perez, Dwight Ramos, AJ Edu, Carl Tamayo, Kai Sotto, and Kevin Quiambao, and alternates Japeth Aguilar and Mason Amos.
With 6-foot-7 forward Jamie Malonzo out for the OQT due to a recent calf injury operation, Cone is set to name either Aguilar or Amos as replacement.
The Philippine five, ranked 37th, must finish in the top two of its group to reach the crossover semifinals against the top two of Group B, which includes No. 12 Brazil, No. 17 Montenegro, and No. 67 Cameroon.
The winners of the crossover semis will duke it out for the lone slot in the Olympics set for July in the French capital.
Fajardo (calf tear) and Edu (torn meniscus) sat out of the opening round of the qualifiers where the Nationals completed a 2-0 sweep last February.
Cone is excited to try different combinations with Fajardo and Edu on board.
“We know we’re going to have to be better this time around. I think the thing that we’re going to have to look at is we didn’t have a chance because June Mar was injured, and AJ was injured and we didn’t really get Kai and Japeth playing together,” he said. “Either Kai or Japeth, but with the size of the teams we’re going to be playing. We’re going to have to figure out a way Kai can play with June Mar.
“Kai and AJ used to play together before so I don’t think it is going to be a stretch, but can they play that kind of way in the system in which we bring.”
