Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes. —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/ELVIS ZALDARIS.
MANILA, Philippines-Much has been said about Gilas Pilipinas’s strides during its training camp in Europe, but if there’s something that national coach Chot Reyes is truly proud of, it’s the buy-in among his charges.
“I think one of the really big gains in [Estonia and Lithuania] is the players’ commitment,” he told the Inquirer recently. “Those who went there endured extra hours of practice, two-a-day, and road work, so there’s no question about it.”
“Honestly, those who went to Europe have a bigger chance than those who did not, all things being equal. (Their presence) was a big show of commitment,” he went on.
It’s that kind of dedication that Reyes hopes to tap into when the training squad figures in a pocket tournament in Guangdong, China, a few weeks from now.
So far, the zest within the Gilas quarters seems to have not tapered off.
“We’re working. That’s all we can do until then,” said program cornerstone Dwight Ramos referring to the World Cup that the Philippines will be cohosting alongside Japan and Indonesia beginning August 25.
“We got some games (on tap) and that’s going to be another test in China. That’s where we’re going to see how much we really improved from those games in Europe,” he added.
“The least we can do, really, is to be competitive,” chimed in Kiefer Ravena a veteran of the World Cup in Foshan. “I think that’s the bare minimum.”
“It is imperative that we compete this time out. No more nightmares of the last World Cup where it’s only in the first quarter and all seems lost,” he went on.
Gilas is scheduled to play Iran, Lebanon, Senegal and, if scheduling permits, Puerto Rico in the short meet in the Chinese province of Guangdong. And as the Inquirer first reported, Reyes and his charges are also hosting Mexico in a friendly on Aug. 21.
Kai Sotto reportedly visited Gilas during its tuneup game against Ateneo last Thursday, but his participation in the World Cup preps remains up in the air. Jordan Clarkson, the leading choice for the naturalized spot, has yet to report to camp pending negotiations with the national federation.
“Competing not to be a disappointment [is the goal]. And the maximum we can do is to fight for a spot in the Olympics. That’s how we’re approaching it and we have to focus in on each other [and] not regress,” said Ravena.
“We really made great strides in Europe. I’m really proud of how we came out despite the injuries,” he added.