Homecrowd critical for Gilas

MANILA, Philippines — Gilas assistant coach Sean Chambers realizes New Zealand is a tough match-up but with the homecrowd as its sixth man, the national team has a chance to shock the Tall Blacks tonight and Australia on Sunday, both at the MOA Arena, in the second FIBA World Cup Asia qualifying window.

“We’re better now than we were in Jeddah,” said Chambers, referring to the Philippines’ seventh-place finish at the FIBA Asia Cup last August, on SEAG Live. In the group stage of that competition, New Zealand beat Gilas, 94-86. “New Zealand’s pool is very deep. They’re extremely physical with athletic ability. Their coach (Judd Flavell) has a disciplined system. They shoot the three-ball well and their point guards are very talented. New Zealand has its core back from Jeddah while Australia is coming with a new group since a lot of their players are in the NBA and NBL. With the homecrowd, we can shock both of them.”

Chambers said because of coach Tim Cone’s motto of keeping the main Gilas pool intact, it was easy to get the players together. “We’re developing a team sense of a program,” he continued. “We’ve brought in a bunch of pieces here and there. Hopefully, they mix at the right time. When we got to training camp last week, it took one or two days before everybody was back in synch. We’re hoping that’s going to get us over the top. We’re formed more like a team than New Zealand and Australia.”

Chambers said he’s worked with Cone since their Alaska days in 1989. “Coach Tim is all about building relationships,” said Chambers. “With Gilas, he looks for players who pay attention to detail, are committed to defense because offense takes care of itself and put effort and energy into their craft. We want good people who understand this journey, playing for Gilas, for the country. This is so much bigger than all of us so you should be playing harder than ever and focusing more than ever, enjoying and embracing this journey.”