Photo from Fiba.com
The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas knows that the country’s second window in the Fiba Asia 2019 World Cup Qualifying will have the Filipinos as “underdogs in a big way,” and cage body president Al Panlilio is batting for more time to prepare the team.
“I am more concerned about our preparation and our lineup,” Panlilio told the Inquirer over the phone on Tuesday, a day after Gilas Pilipinas swept its first window assignment in the hectic qualifying series leading to China 2019.
“The issue on my mind right now is how we can get more preparation time, considering that we have Australia next (as an opponent),” he added. “I honestly believe we need more time to prepare.”
Gilas Pilipinas was assembled by coach Chot Reyes just three weeks before its match against Japan, and the squad encountered some snags along the way as naturalized player Andray Blatche joined the team just three days before leaving for Tokyo.
And Blatche, a dominant force in past international events for the Filipinos, failed to live up to expectations despite a supposed impressive last two games with the Xinjiang Flying Tigers in the China Basketball Association before coming over.
Team PH gutted out a 77-71 win over Japan before bouncing back from a bum start to churn out a 90-83 decision of Chinese Taipei Monday night at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.
Aside from batting for more time to prepare, Panlilio is also evaluating the performances of everyone.
“When I say lineup, (the performances of) all players are to be assessed and reviewed, including that of our naturalized (player, Blatche),” he went on after Blatche finished with averages of just 9.5 points and 13 rebounds in close victories over Japan and Chinese Taipei.
Isaiah Austin is a candidate for naturalization and is an option for Gilas—if his papers are completed in time—when the Filipinos clash with Australia in Sydney in February next year and have their return bout with the Japanese in Manila.