Djordjevic: Team Philippines lacks quality

FOSHAN – Serbia coach Sasha Djordjevic didn’t mince words when asked to assess a Gilas Pilipinas side that his team and another Euro side, Italy, demolished.

“I think they’ve shown some talent, some quickness. But they’re always missing quality and it was evident in these two games,” Djordjevic said.

“They faced two European tough teams, European teams who know how to play tough, physical basketball, and that’s the result. So maybe (that’s something) to think about in the future.

“But I know the physicality and atheticism of their players and that might cause some problems (to opponents),” he added.

After being lackluster all the way through against Italy, Gilas actually enjoyed a better start against Serbia. The Filipinos even got the lead at 9-7 before the Nikola Jokic-led Serbians went full throttle.

“They’re just too big and too strong for us at this point,” conceded Gilas coach Yeng Guiao. 

“I felt also Serbia had to put out its full strength just before the half ended to make sure they can put us away early because in the first quarter and a part of second, we’re somehow in the game still,” he added.

Djordjevic, meanwhile, slammed the hard foul Paul Lee committed on Marko Guduric with 7:30 left in their game.

“I don’t like dirty plays. I don’t like when you have intention to hurt,” he said. “Play physical and tough but play fair, that’s what I ask from my players, that’s what I ask from my opponents.”

Guiao maintained it wasn’t a bad foul.

“I don’t think so. It was a bump,” said the Gilas mentor even as he pointed out that Serbia actually “got the breaks” in terms of the calls.