De Ocampo eyes Gilas comeback vs South Korea

TAIPEI – Attending full practice since Wednesday, Ranidel de Ocampo finally plunges back into action as Gilas Pilipinas tangles with South Korea in Day Three of the 2015 Jones Cup at the Xinchuang Gymnasium here on Monday. 

In a week or two, De Ocampo is confident he’ll be back in game shape and can help Gilas Pilipinas in its campaign in the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship on Sept. 23-Oct. 3 in Changsha, China.

“I’m still off but I do believe I can catch up with the guys. One week or two and I’ll be back 100 percent,” said De Ocampo, missing Gilas’ first three weeks of training due to a hamstring pull.

But De Ocampo knows the Gilas system fully well since he’s always been present on the sideline, even in Estonia.

“Sa Estonia, naka-practice ako pasundot-sundot,” said De Ocampo, a key part of the pool being the lone stretch-four player in the roster.

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Marc Pingris is running their plays in his mind in sleep to be able to quickly adapt to it.

“I write it on paper and keep it on mind going to bed. Rising in the morning, I remind myself of the plays. Inuulit-ulit ko,” said Pingris who reported in training camp only upon Gilas’ return from Estonia.

“I'm getting used to it, but I can’t say 100 percent,” said Pingris.

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It’s hard not to notice the excitement and enthusiasm of Calvin Abueva in being with the national team.

“(It’s my) first time, and it’s just now that I’m feeling how it is to serve as a national player,” said Abueva.

“Masarap, masaya,” added the Alaska Milk do-it-all forward who is expected to be a key component of the Gilas team in the Changsha meet.

He’s making up for lost time after passing up chances to be with the national team in the 2011 SEA Games in Jakarta and in the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship.

“In 2011, I begged off as I was attending two practices a day then. Hindi ko na kaya kung mageensayo pa ako sa national team,” said Abueva, a dominant force for San Sebastian in the NCAA then.

As an Alaska Ace in 2012, he was not allowed by his mother ball club to join the Gilas pool due to conflict of schedule.

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Terrence Romeo said he’s not finding it a problem switching from a scoring guard to more of a facilitator.

“Normal lang,” said Romeo. “Kasi naman, noong high school at college, uno-dos ang laro ko.

He’s neither intimidated setting up senior PBA stars.

“I’m just focusing on my role. We have different roles to play and I’m tending mine to the best of my ability,” said Romeo, cracking the Gilas pool after a wondrous second season in the pros where he emerged Most Improved Player and gained a spot in the Mythical Second Team.