Yeng Guiao ‘pleased’ with Gilas’ early progress

Photo by Denison Dalupang/INQUIRER

MANILA, Philippines—Even with just four training sessions in, Gilas Pilipinas head coach Yeng Guiao is already liking what he’s seeing. 

“I’m pleased with what I’m seeing from them. I think they understand that this is a group of smart guys—they understand exactly what roles they are [fulfilling],” he said Monday night after practice at Meralco Gym in Pasig.

“We got some blending going on,” he added. “We had the old guys coming from the last windows work out with the new guys in the pool.”

The usual crop of cagers were in attendance.

Marcio Lassiter of San Miguel was in street clothes this time out while Raymond Almazan of Meralco joined the fray. Beau Belga was the latest warm body to help out after Stanley Pringle last week.

Guiao saved the best praise for his young talents and his returning ward at Kiefer Ravena, who was cleared for practices last June 24. 

“We’re OK tonight especially with Kiefer looking sharp,” he said. “CJ (Perez) and Robert (Bolick)—they’re blending well.”

The national tactician also shared they have begun reviewing film from the last FIBA window Italy and Serbia played in while they await the return of naturalized big man Andray Blatche, who is set to arrive early next week.

“They do a lot of switching on defense, so I believe it’s best to design patterns against that as early as now. We’re already thinking ahead.”

Guiao doubled down on his belief that he has the right pieces to do just that.

 “For the kind of [plays] we need, I think we have the right kind of guys to run [them],” he added.

But in the same breath, Guiao said that any comers who want to lend help to the national cause are more than welcome.

“12 to 13 players every practice is ideal,” he said. “But of course when guys come in and we number more than that, we’d still appreciate it.”