BOCAUE, Bulacan—In its first two games in the Fiba 3×3 World Cup, Gilas Pilipinas had to deal with headlocks, arm swings, and hard screens in physical affairs against Brazil and Mongolia.
It seems like that may have slowed them down but Filipinos cleared the physicality is not their issue after going 1-1 in day one of the world tournament.
Head coach Ronnie Magsanoc, said the players didn’t mind the rough contests but it was the inexperience that played a difference.
“I knew it was physical but if you look at what happened closely sometimes you will lose your composure,” said Magsanoc in Filipino after their 21-17 loss to Mongolia in Pool C.
READ: Gilas settles for 1-1 after loss to Mongolia in Fiba 3×3 World Cup
“I think we’re used to the physicality, we were so ready for it, we prepared for it. The PBA is even more physical,” said Pringle.
Gilas took down Brazil 15-7, in the highly-physical match-up but they were able to trudge through it and finish the match on a high note.
The Mongolia game, though, was a different story, as the Filipinos got called with two crucial unsportsmanlike fouls that allowed the Mongolians to take control of the game.
“The physicality is not a problem,” said Standhardinger. “The problem is the inexperience we have, they had two technical fouls against us so that’s four free throws, four points, that’s two possessions plus the fouls called.”
READ: Standhardinger playing through ‘a lot’ of pain Fiba 3×3 World Cup
The Philippines held an 8-3 lead early in the game but Mongolia quickly turned the tide and get to a 9-9 tie and that was when things haywire for Gilas.
Roger Pogoy was called with an unsportsmanlike foul on Tsengunbayaar Gotov and the latter’s free throw that tied the game at 11-11 became the catalyst for the Mongolians.
Tserenbaatar Enkhtaivan gave Mongolia an 18-14 lead after he got fouled on a layup attempt.
“There’s a thin line and we thought one of the unsportsmanlike fouls wasn’t unsportsmanlike at all, the one where Roger made a challenge,” said Magsanoc. “We’ll just try to be better.”