Even with less than two weeks to prepare for the 2017 Southeast Asian Games, Gilas Pilipinas has put its best foot forward as it flies to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Friday.
Head coach Jong Uichico is hopeful that the team’s preparations will be enough to help the country secure its 18th gold in the regional tiff.
“We’re about 70-80 percent ready,” the soft-spoken mentor said on Thursday during the Chooks-to-Go-hosted sendoff at Edsa Shangri-la. “Hopefully, that 80-percent can get things done for the SEA Games team.”
Jong Uichico. Photo by Randolph B. Leongson/ INQUIRER.net
Despite the short preparation, Gilas Pilipinas is still the favorite to nab the gold medal in the biennial meet but teams like Thailand, Indonesia, and host country Malaysia are all out to dislodge the Philippines out of its throne.
Uichico said the players don’t need reminding on how much it would mean for the country to impose its dominance anew in the hardcourt.
“The players are very motivated. Once you don the Philippine colors, or Philippine flag, or Philippine uniform, you should be motivated. There’s no amount of motivation that just wearing that uniform and representing the country. The mere fact that you’re part of the national team should be enough of a motivation,” he said.
He continued: “The pressure is there already. Any coach or player that is going to the Southeast Asian Games is supposed to win and they’re supposed to bring home the gold. It doesn’t matter if you have one day or two days of practice. They’re supposed to win.”
Gilas Pilipinas opens its SEA Games campaign on Sunday against Thailand, before taking on Myanmar, and Malaysia in the following days to finish its schedule in the group stages.