Smart Gilas Pilipinas scores repeat win over Hawke’s Bay Hawks

Smart Gilas Pilipinas head coach Chot Reyes FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine men’s basketball team scored a repeat win over Hawke’s Bay Hawks, 73-70, Saturday (Manila time) in New Zealand.

Head coach Chot Reyes described Smart Gilas Pilipinas second match in as many days as “defensively intense” as they endured playing in another unheated gymnasium.

“Struggled from the outside today but found a way to eke out a W,” Reyes also said in a tweet. “Learning from the physical Kiwi game.

It was at least nine degrees outside, assistant coach Josh Reyes recounted on his Twitter account in Filipino, and “the ball felt really cold.”

“Got to adjust better to these cold gyms,” the younger Reyes also said.

On Friday, the Nationals also edged the Hawks, 82-78, as their three-point shooting was “on-target” said Reyes.

Smart Gilas Pilipinas, which is on a 10-day camp in Napier, NZ, plays the NBL All-Stars on Sunday then takes a break the day after that.