Ni ANN ENCARNACION
ITO ang panawagan ni Gilas Pilipinas coach Nenad Vucinic sa publiko kaugnay sa build-up ng team tungo sa third window ng FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers.
“It’s important for our public not to put too [many] expectations on them because they’re still very young and inexperienced players at the international level,” ani Vucinic.
“What we’re trying to achieve is first, team spirit – a character for the team to play hard against any opposition. We want to see players that are possible for the future of Gilas, maybe even in the World Cup, how they perform at the highest level.”
Umalis ang national team kahapon para sa nakatakdang laban sa New Zealand sa Hunyo 30 sa Eventfinda stadium sa Auckland. Pagkaraan ay babalik ang Gilas Pilipinas para harapin ang India sa Mall of Asia Arena sa Hulyo 3.
Mayroong 1-1 win-loss record ang Gilas na tinalo ang India sa una nilang pagtatapat, ngunit natalo sa New Zealand noong Pebrero.
Na-disqualify naman ang South Korea, ang isa pang team sa Group A, matapos mabigong magpadala ng koponan sa second window dahil sa COVID-19 issues.
“They’ve done well, but they’re a long way to go,” pag-amin ni Vucinic patungkol sa national team. “Every next [game] is more difficult, and it’s up to them to really work hard, to overcome the deficiencies that they have.”
Mas batang Gilas squad ang kabilang sa upcoming window sa pangunguna ni NLEX/Shiga guard Kiefer Ravena bilang team captain, kasama sina Gilas cadet Will Navarro, Japan-based professional Dwight Ramos, at backcourt pair nina RJ Abarrientos at SJ Belangel, na nakatakdang maglaro sa Korean Basketball League.
Ang iba pa ay amateurs: Rhenz Abando, Geo Chiu, Dave Ildefonso, Francis Lopez, Kevin Quiambao at Carl Tamayo.
Hindi nakasama ang naturalized center at Ateneo star na si Ange Kouame dahil sa partial ACL tear at meniscus sprain.
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