PH coach rues short preparation time for Fiba compared to S. Korea’s

Smart Gilas Pilipinas head coach Chot Reyes FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – National team head coach Chot Reyes could not help but envy South Korea’s training plan for this year’s Fiba Basketball World Cup.

The Koreans, who finished third last August and booked the last ticket to the Worlds, will start their build up as early as April, bared Reyes.

“South Korea schedule for 2014: Apr-May: Training Camp, May-June=Abroad Training, June-Aug: Exhibition Matches, Sept: FIBA Worlds & Asian Games,” the tweet read.

The Filipinos’ preparations, meanwhile, will only go on full swing four months after their competitors.

“Tayo August pa,” a rueful Reyes said in the same tweet.

With the PBA’s tight schedule in the 2014, the only time the players can get together in training sans responsibilities with their mother clubs is after August 15, assuming the finals of the season-ending conference go on a full stretch.

That’s just a little over two weeks before the competition’s opening in Spain.

“That’s the only window the PBA Board is giving us,” said Reyes, who has been informed of the crammed training schedule last year.

The multi-titled coach knows how vital the preparations are, if the Philippines wants to make a mark in the world stage after making history in the Asian basketball scene last year.

“With good preparation, 50-50. Without it, slim-and-none,” Reyes said when asked for the country’s chances in the Worlds.

Reyes had earlier mentioned that he plans to hold once-a-week practices for available players starting his January.

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