GILAS Pilipinas is far from what Head Coach Tab Baldwin has envisioned for the country’s campaign in the International Basketball Federation (Fiba) Asia Men’s Championship that starts next week in Changsa, China.
The Filipinos won their first tournament under Baldwin, sweeping the MVP Cup on Sunday after demolishing an undermanned Chinese Taipei, 90-77. The team clinched the silver medal in the William R. Jones Cup in Taiwan two weeks ago.
But Baldwin, the man tasked to bring the Philippines back to the Olympics for the first time since 1972, sees flaws in their game which they need to correct with the Olympic qualifier opening on September 23.
“We are still playing silly basketball. We commit terrible mistakes in transition and we’re turning the ball over recklessly,” Baldwin said. “I’m not comfortable and I don’t want to be comfortable.”
The MVP Cup served as Gilas’s final tune up for the Asian Championship, where the champion takes the lone spot in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics next year.
Baldwin said the MVP Cup triumph “was good for the mentality and psychology” of the players and at the same time gave him the opportunity to experiment.
“We introduced new stuff in the MVP Cup. We will now refine those things. We will establish confidence on specific lineups,” Baldwin said. “The guys know that so it won’t surprise them.”
Gilas newcomers Terrence Romeo and Calvin Abueva have been impressive and consistent for Baldwin and naturalized player Andray Blatche is slowly getting in shape and tallied 18 points and 12 rebounds against the Taiwanese on Sunday night.
Baldwin downplayed their 13-point win over Chinese Taipei which did not play its full strength. Its naturalized player, Quincy Davis, sat out the whole second half, while one of its mainstays, Lin Chih Chieh, did not play in that game. Big man Tseng Wen-ting also nursed a knee injury and did not join the team.
Gilas left for Cebu City on Monday for the final phase of their preparation. Gilas Team Manager Butch Antonio said the team will return to Manila on Friday night. The players will rest for two days to be with their families before departing for Changsa.
The Philippines is bracketed in Group B with Hong Kong, Kuwait and Palestine. The Filipinos will face Palestine on September 23, Hong Kong on the next day and Kuwait on the final day of the first preliminary phase on September 25.
Gilas is favored to rule Group B where the top three teams will be merged with the top three teams in Group A for the second phase of the preliminary round. In Group A are defending champion Iran, Japan, Malaysia and darkhorse India.
Image credits: Nonoy Lacza