Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.NET
The Philippines failed to make the quarterfinals of the Fiba 3×3 World Cup, but it was never a question about talent.
Christian Standhardinger believes the team’s inexperience playing 3-on-3 was too much to overcome especially when playing against some of the world’s best.
Gilas only won a couple of games to finish with a 2-2 record which wasn’t enough to advance into the next round.
“I honestly felt that we were better and it was just the lack of experience that happened that’s why we did not win those games,” Standhardinger told reporters on Monday night after the Philippines wrapped up its campaign with a 19-12 win over Russia. “But now that we have that experience I honestly hope that we stay together and we make history in this 3×3.”
Only Troy Rosario had experience playing in the 3×3 while Standhardinger, Stanley Pringle and Roger Pogoy are all first-timers.
Also, the team only had three weeks of preparation and 11 practices before the tournament started. Making it more difficult was Standhardinger’s knee injury that kept the Fil-German from missing practices.
The Filipinos opened the tournament on a high note after beating Brazil, 15-7. But they couldn’t sustain their play and fell to Mongolia, 21-17.
Facing a must-win, the Philippines came just a shot away from toppling Canada, which went undefeated in pool play.
“I think it’s a little bitter for me because I’m happy we won two games but we should’ve won against Canada and we should’ve won against Mongolia for sure.”