Fiba World Cup: Guiao, Gilas Pilipinas unbothered by Duterte’s comments

FILE- Gilas Pilipinas coach Yeng Guiao. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—Gilas Pilipinas head coach Yeng Guiao shrugged off comments from President Rodrigo Duterte that the national men’s basketball team doesn’t stand in the 2019 Fiba World Cup.

In a speech before Filipino-Chinese businessmen in Malacañang Tuesday, Duterte said that Gilas Pilipinas was sure to lose against Italy, the Philippines’ first opponent in the group stages, and that people should just bet on China, which is hosting the tournament.

READ: Duterte: Gilas no chance vs Italy in Fiba World Cup, let’s just bet on China instead

But the feisty Guiao, speaking from Spain in the middle of the Nationals’ training camp for the world meet, said his team is not affected by the President’s remarks.

“It doesn’t really bother us,” Guiao said in a report by Paolo del Rosario of ESPN 5. “I guess you just have to take that from a positive point of view, your attitude should be positive. We should be able to just keep believing in ourselves.”

“We look at it as a challenge. The best approach is to look at it as a challenge, just keep believing in what you can do.”

READ: Yeng Guiao: Gilas Pilipinas’ best shot is against Angola

Guiao, though, knows the tall task that awaits the Filipinos in the World Cup,  which kicks off August 31. He had said before that it would take a “miracle” for Gilas to beat both Italy and Serbia, but added that “I believe that a miracle can happen.”

But regardless of the results, Guiao vowed that his team will do the best they can as they carry the flag.

READ: Yeng Guiao on facing Italy, Serbia in World Cup: ‘A miracle can happen’

Guiao, though, thinks the national team still has the support of Duterte, who said he will be in attendance at the games.

“At the end of the day, I think the president will still be rooting for us anyway,” Guiao said.