Gilas nangakong lalaban hanggang sa huli
MANILA, Philippines – Tanggap ng Gilas Pilipinas ang pagiging ‘heavy underdog’ sa darating na FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament, ngunit nangakong makikipaglaban nang husto kontra sa mga bigating koponan sa international basketball.
Ito ang sinabi ni coach Tab Baldwin para sa kampanya ng Nationals sa OQT na nakatakda sa Hulyo 5-10 sa Mall of Asia Arena sa Pasay City.
“We have more than any underdog’s chances. We have to go out there ready to take a puncher’s chance against the fighter. That’s what we’ve got to be because we might only get a few swings in the game so we got to swing for the fences,” wika ni Baldwin.
Unang makakatapat ng Gilas Pilipinas ang World No. 5 France, inaasahang magpaparada sa NBA players kagaya ni San Antonio Spurs star Tony Parker.
Kinabukasan ay lalabanan naman ng Nationals ang 21st-ranked New Zealand.
Sasandigan ni Baldwin ang Filipino fighting spirit para manalo sa France at New Zealand.
“We certainly won’t go out there thinking that we don’t have a chance. We won’t go out there bowing to our opponents. I have no doubt the mentality and attitude of the players will be spot-on at game time,” ani Baldwin.
Sinasabing hindi makakapaglaro sina Boris Diaw ng Spurs at Nicholas Batum ng Charlotte Hornets sa OQT dahil sa pag-aasikaso sa kanilang mga bagong kontrata sa NBA.
“If they come with their full contingent, they’ll be very tough. If they come with, say a watered down lineup, there are players playing for France that none of us know their names today that are exceptional players so it won’t be a weak France, no matter what,” sabi pa ni Baldwin.
Bumuo na si Baldwin ng isang training pool sa pamumuno nina Jayson Castro, Gabe Norwood, Calvin Abueva, Terrence Romeo, June Mar Fajardo at Marc Pingris. Nakatakda namang bumalik sa bansa si naturalized player Andray Blatche, habang ipinaramdam ni Fil-Am Jordan Clarkson ng Los Angeles Lakers ang kanyang interes na makapaglaro sa Gilas.
“We have to see first what the eligibility is for Jordan. I know he’s working himself with his people and the Fiba to try and achieve the eligibility to be able to play as a local Filipino player and give him every help and assistance we can in that effort,” ani Baldwin.
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