Chan rues missed opportunity to play vs Ginobili

MANILA, Philippines – The bad news that Manu Ginobili will skip the FIBA World Cup did not only let the Argentineans down but also Gilas Pilipinas gunner Jeff Chan who was looking forward to play against him.

Chan, a lefty gunner like Ginobili, was disappointed on missing out the chance to play the Argentinean superstar.

"Gusto ko talaga siya makalaro pero wala tayo magagawa kasi injured [yata] siya (I really want to play against him but we can’t do anything because he’s injured)," Chan told Philstar.com on Friday morning Manila time.

Ginobili, who is coming off a championship run in the NBA with the San Antonio Spurs, was barred by his team to play in Spain because of a lingering injury. He played through pain caused by a stressed fracture in his right leg throughout last season's NBA playoffs.

Chan, though, remains excited to play in Spain even without one of his hard court heroes.

"Pero kung wala siya, excited pa rin ako maglaro because ang mga kalaban natin dito magagaling at sila yung mga top countries sa buong mundo," Chan said. "And yung experience to play against them is something."

Aside from Argentina, Gilas Pilipinas is bracketed with Croatia, Greece, Puerto Rico and Senegal in the World Cup.

The Phl national team is back in the world championships for the first time since 1978 following its silver medal run in last year's FIBA Asia Men's Championship.

Chan and the rest of the national pool are in Miami, Florida, for a week-long intensive training camp.

"So far, focus kami sa defense. Everyday iba-iba yung defense na pina-practice namin," Chan said.

The team is scheduled to fly straight to Europe next week for a series of tune-up games against top European national teams in Vittoria, Spain and Antebes in France.