source: www.philstar.com
MANILA, Philippines - Coach Chot Reyes said Gilas
Pilipinas would need an intensive preparation to reach competitive level that
would match the continent’s best and give them a good shot at playing in the
global meet.
Reyes appealed to the pro league that they be
given the longest possible period of time to train for a serious crack at the
2013 FIBA Asia Championship set at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay on Aug.
1-11.
Fresh from his Hong Kong trip where he steered
the Gilas cadet team to a championship in an invitational tourney, Reyes sat
down in an initial meeting with PBA commissioner Chito Salud yesterday
afternoon.
They discussed ways to get maximum time to brace
for expected tough competition against Asian traditional title contenders China
and Korea, new powers Iran, Jordan, Lebanon and Qatar and other contenders like
Japan and Chinese Taipei.
“Big thing is the third conference adjustment.
But we’re still working on the time that would be available for us (to train).
Naming of the lineup is going to be dependent on the final schedule,” said
Reyes.
The national mentor, however, has an idea on what
kind of team he’s forming.
“Magbubuo tayo ng team, di tayo magbubuo ng
collection of superstars (We’ll form a team. We’ll not put together a
collection of superstars),” said Reyes.
“We’ll never have size advantage so we’ll have a
team that has speed and outside shooting. It must be versatile. It must be a
team with role players,” Reyes added.
He said players who played for Gilas in the last
Jones Cup and FIBA Asia Cup and even the young cadet players who donned the
national colors in the Dubai and Hong Kong invitationals will be considered for
the team to the FIBA Asia Championship.
“They’re under consideration. They’ll be part of
the pool where we get the final lineup,” said Reyes.
Greg Slaughter, the country’s lone seven-foot
player, could well be the cadet player with the best chance of making the team.
For a long time, he was part of the previous Gilas team under Serbian coach
Rajko Toroman. Slaughter and Petron rookie center Junmar Fajardo are likely to
fight it out for the role as Marcus Douthit’s backup.
Reyes said they’re also in the lookout for a
naturalized player backup.
Considerations in this regard are naturalization
papers and the salary. “It’s hard to pay him just to be a backup. Unlike in
Lebanon, they already have four naturalized players to choose from. At yung
naturalized nila hindi malalakas, super lakas,” said Reyes.
Reyes also mentioned the advantage of their
rivals in preparation period, but nonetheless expressed gratitude to the PBA
for its backing.
“We’re very thankful for their all-out support in
this program in trying to achieve the goal in qualifying for the world
championships. We’re very appreciative,” he said.
“What is clear from the PBA standpoint is we are
here to fully support the cause of Gilas Pilipinas and as a proof of that we
will come out with a third conference schedule that will certainly strengthen
the chances of our national team,” said Salud.
“We are bending over backwards. We are meeting
with the national team coach to see to it that his needs are met appropriately
and from that standpoint we also want to be able to help the SBP and the MVP
Group in successfully hosting this FIBA Asia,” Salud added.
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