COACH CHOT PREDICTS A ' WAR' IN GILAS PILIPINAS MUST-WIN GAME VS PUERTO RICO
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 03 Sep 2014
Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes predicts ?it's going to be a war? when the Philippines plays Puerto Rico in a ?must win game? to be telecast ?live? by TV5 on Wednesday night from Seville, Spain.
In an overseas telephone conversation with the Manila Standard/Viva Sports, the coach said that ?realistically we didn?t have a chance? in our games against Croatia, Greece who are ranked No. 5 in the world and No. 3 ranked Argentina against whom we played the game of our lives before losing by a mere four points while the Croatia game which went into overtime was marred by a couple of inexplicable calls against the Philippines.
Reyes told us that from the start he realized that ?our best chance is in the last two games? against Puerto Rico and Senegal who have proven to be a formidable team in Group B.
In an effort to give some of the key players a rest, the coach didn?t have naturalized NBA player Andre Blatche, Ranidel de Ocampo who had a terrific game against Argentina and battle-weary Marc Pingris practice and asked them to relax and see the sights.
Reyes said that since Puerto Rico also hasn?t won a game, he expects them to come out fighting because ?they are going to want to win.?
The coach said Jason Castro who committed a traveling violation in the last play against Argentina received a touching message from the Philippines ?Living Legend? Robert Jaworski who told Castro to use that incident ?as an inspiration and don?t be downhearted?? even as he praised Gilas Pilipinas telling the team ?you have inspired our nation. I wish I was there.?
Reyes said that after the loss to Argentina the team was ?downhearted? but that ?the mood and the spirit is a lot better? going into the Puerto Rico game which ?may be our first break.?
Samahang Baskebol ng Pilipinas vice chairman Ricky Vargas told the team ?you have proven you could take on the best in the world and that you didn?t come here as tourists.?
Reyes also cited PBA Most Valuable Player Junmar Fajardo ?for doing a helluba job? battling the big men of opposing teams and pointed out that Japeth Aguilar may be awed by the fact that ?he is guarding big-time players.?
He said that when the team first arrived in Spain, Japeth was ?focused on scoring? which was unlike his FIBA Asia stint when he played defense and went for the rebounds. Reyes told the lanky and athletic Aguilar ?don?t be in a hurry to shoot? adding ?we hope he comes out of it.?
Reyes also answered armchair critics who have insisted that Fajardo be given more playing time pointing out that ?our advantage is shooting? which means Gilas Pilipinas can?t play it's big men together because that would mean keeping de Ocampo on the bench.
The Filipinos will be up against former PBA import Ronald Balkman the 6?7? who was banned for life by PBA Commissioner Chito Salud who has indicated he is not prepared to lift the suspension even though Balkman has said he ?loves the Philippines? and would like to return and play in the Philippines.
Balkman who is averaging 18.0 points and 5.3 rebounds a game and Minnesota Timberwolves 5?11? point guard Jose Bara who is averaging 20 points and 4.3 assists in the World Cup so far are expected to give Gilas Pilipinas the biggest problems.
Photo: Farjardo (L) toughs it out against Greece.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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