REYES SPENDS SLEEPLESS NIGHTS AS INJURIES TO CASTRO, PAUL LEE CAUSE CONCERN
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 21 Aug 2014
Reyes.
Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes is spending sleepless nights after injuries to Jason Castro and Paul Lee caused concern with the World Cup in Spain just over one week away.
Following another loss to the Basque region team EUSKADI 75-66 in a tune-up game in San Sebastian, Spain, Reyes told the Manila Standard/Viva Sports in an exclusive overseas telephone interview that Castro, the top point guard in the last FIBA Asia Championships ?just heard something pop? with fears of an Achilles injury.
Reyes said they will ?find out later today? about Castro?s injury as well as that of Lee who ?again had pain last night? with a suspected hamstring problem.
The coach said he will ?figure out what to do if we lose Jason? pointing out that is why they brought 16 players for the tune-up games.
After travelling from France where they lost all three games in a pocket tournament in Antibes where Gilas Pilipinas put on an impressive performance in an eight point loss to European champions France, Reyes called a practice hours before the game because ?we didn?t want to take it easy even as we tried out some defensive schemes? in an effort to correct some of the flaws which led to the nationals suffering a series of bad defeats with naturalized player Andray Blatche and Lee sitting out one game because the coach didn?t wish to risk aggravating Blatche?s sprained ankle and Lee?s painful hip.
Reyes said in the game against Euaskadi, the Philippines ?made a strong comeback? but after he pulled out Blatche to give him some rest and sent in Junmar Fajardo and Japeth Aguilar in the last two minutes of the first quarter he saw the one point lead of the Spanish team quickly balloon to 11 points.
The coach also lamented the referees calls pointing out that unsportsmanlike fouls called on Beau Belga and Gabe Norwood and a technical slapped on Jared Dillinger were ?very questionable? which compounded the problems of the nationals and ruined a comeback effort.
Reyes said there were obvious differences on the way the referees also called travelling violations in Spain compared to France but conceded ?we have to adjust.?
Blatche led the Philippines with 19 points along with 7 boards while Marc Pimgris in h is best game so far added 10 points and 9 rebounds against bigger opponents while captain Jimmy Alapag scored 9 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists with Norwood and LA Tenorio contributing 7 points apiece.
The Filipinos face tough Angola in another tune-up game in Spain Wednesday night.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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