Gilas begins15-day Lithuanian grind

MANILA, Philippines - Gilas Pilipinas kicked off its Lithuanian stint yesterday, hoping to build team chemistry in the next fortnight of rigid training and reach peak form in time for the 2013 FIBA-Asia Championships in August in Manila.

“Thirty practices in 15 days away from our families. It will not be easy. But this is what we signed up for – for history,” said national coach Chot Reyes on his Twitter account upon their arrival in the former Russian republic Monday night.

“We came here liking each other. We will eat, sleep, and train together for 15 days until we grow sick and tired of each other. Warts and all,” said Reyes.

Reyes and the whole 16-man Gilas delegation settled in their rooms at Hotel Vanagupe in the seaside resort town of Palanga at around 10 p.m. after a long, tiring 23-hour journey from Manila.

Meanwhile, fancied China set its own training camp in Australia even as Iran, another top contender, has named 26 players for its own camp.

“I strongly believe that the Chinese basketball team has all the necessary resources to become a team of excellence without limits,” said Panagiotis Giannakis, the Greek coach of the Chinese national team, on fibaasia.net.

“I have always been fascinated by the talent available in Chinese basketball. But I also have always wondered why they don’t go up to the next level. I think it’s got more to do with the players realizing their potential to the fullest. That’s my job here,” added Giannakis before their departure for Australia.

Over in Iran, coach Mehmed Becirovic named his training pool led by NBA player Hamed Haddadi, do-it-all star Nikkhah Bahrami and other veteran campaigners Mahdi Kamrani, Hamed Afagh, Hamed Sohrabnejad, Oshin Sahakian, Javad Davari, Asghar Kardoust and Arsalan Kazemi.

The Chinese and the Iranians are among the top favorites in the 2013 FIBA-Asia Championships set Aug. 1-11 at the MOA Arena in Pasay and Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila. The Iranians won the Asian crown in 2007 and 2009 before the Chinese regained the title at home in Wuhan in 2011.

Before plunging to work Tuesday in Lithuania, some members of the Gilas team watched Game Seven of the NBA Eastern Conference finals between the Miami Heat and the Indiana Pacers.

Marcus Douthit, JuneMar Fajardo, Marc Pingris, Jimmy Alapag, Jayson Castro, Gabe Norwood, Jeff Chan, LA Tenorio, Ranidel de Ocampo, Larry Fonacier, Gary David and Japeth Aguilar make up the 12-man pool brought in Lithuania for boot camp.

To follow in a day or two is late addition Beau Belga.

Providing a hand in Gilas’ Lithuanian training is coach Kestutis Kemzura, who steered Lithuania to second runner-up finish at the 2010 FIBA World Championships in Turkey.

As part of their Lithuanian buildup, the Nationals play the European champion Lithuanian national Under-20 team, the LSU Baltai club of Kaunas, Tripedas Neptunas and Birstono Jazz Diremta in tune-up matches.