MANILA, Philippines - Gilas Pilipinas topped the sweet-shooting Kazakhstan team, 92-89, in its final tune-up in its FIBA Asia Championship buildup last night, and the Nationals declared they’re ready to go to war.
Before a sizable crowd at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, the Nationals took the full measure of the Kazakhs and did better in the crunch, pulling off the morale-boosting victory six days before the start of the Asian joust Thursday at the MOA Arena in Pasay and Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.
“We go back to practice tomorrow and off Sunday. And from hereon, it’s mostly mental and sharpening,†said Gilas coach Chot Reyes.
“We don’t overlook Saudi Arabia, but we will spend the last days of our training preparing for Jordan and Chinese Taipei,†Reyes added.
Reyes and his troops open their quest in the 27th FIBA Asia Championship versus Saudi Arabia on Aug. 1, then Jordan on the next day and Chinese Taipei at the close of the first round of the preliminaries on Aug. 3.
Kazakhstan is a potential quarterfinal round opponent, thus, Gilas Pilipinas worked hard to arrange their tune-up match won by the latter on a decisive run at the finish.
“In my books, Kazakhstan is one of the stronger teams. We always have a tough time with them that’s why we chose not to group with them in the preliminary round,†said Reyes.
“I’m always worried about them, especially (shooting center Anton) Ponomarev,†Reyes added.
The Nationals shackled down Ponomarev in the second half and leaned on clutch baskets by Jimmy Alapag, Jeff Chan and Marcus Douthit at endgame as Gilas pulled through and wound up with a 12-5 win-loss record in tune-up matches played in a two-month buildup for the Asian war.
A downside in last night’s friendly was the ankle sprains suffered by Jayson Castro and Ranidel de Ocampo.
“Yun ang hirap kapag pumukpok ka sa larong ganito, prone ka sa injury. We’re hoping it’s nothing serious,†said Reyes.
Alapag subbed for Castro in taking crucial free throws as the latter grimaced in pain after a bad fall on a mid-air collision with barrel-chested forward Mikhail Yevstigneyev.
Alapag made both charities as Gilas surged ahead to stay at 88-87 with 1:36 left to play.