MANILA–Even if we’re quick, we can no longer outrun the opposition.
On the eve of the Smart Gilas Pilipinas first game in the Asian Games, former national team head coach Yeng Guiao shaed that belief, which he learned first-hand when he handled the Philippine team during last year’s Fiba-Asia tournament.
It’s also something he hopes Smart Gilas will realize as it embarks on a quest to bring back the pride to the Philippines in the 2010 Asian Games held in Guangzhou, China.
“I thought we could outrun them (other countries) and use our quickness, but they’re already tall and they’re as quick and as we are,” shared Guiao.
“But my hope is that we can be smarter than they are. Our basketball sense is better, ” he added.
Guiao’s built his national squad around pros from the PBA—which is a contrast from the present squad which constists mainly of college standouts.
But the Philippines, with little time to work on cohesion, finished a in 8th place in the Fiba-Asia, unable to take advantage of their pace.
Guiao believes Smart Gilas has a perfect combination of players to do what his squad failed to do: There are young players with fresh legs and PBA stars like Asi Taulava, Kelly Williams and Sol Mercado who will provide a boost to the team’s collective basketball IQ.
“Those guys are more experienced than the guys that they have in the original Gilas team. They will be a lot of help,” said the spitfire mentor of Air21 in the PBA.
The 37-year-old Taulava, for instance, has carried the burden for the Philippines in several international stints since 2002, including being part of Guiao’s squad last year.
Mercado, meanwhile, in his first stint in international play, has made his way into the rotation, despite playing with in an injury.
“Sol and Asi, for example—they’re really cut out for international game,” Guiao added.
Guiao also believes that scheduling is decisive in international tournaments like the Asian Games, and getting a headstart will go a long way when the going gets tough.
“If you could build momentum, that’s the best,” he added.
Gilas, though, will have to hurdle the pesky Kuwaitis in a win-or-lose match in the preliminary round Saturday in order to advance to the next round.
The final line up include Chris Tiu, JV Casio, Mark Barroca, Greg Slaughter Mac Baracael, Japeth Aguilar, Jason Ballesteros and overseas-based players Marcio Lassiter and Chris Lutz and the PBA additions.
“Kuwait is a decent team. They’re tall, they’re quick, they’re deceptive. because you might think that they’re going to be easy to beat,” said Guiao, whose National squad also defeated Kuwait last year in the knockout stage of FIBA.
“Although they (Smart Gilas) are capable of beating Kuwait, they cannot be complacent,” Guiao finished.