Hindi magpapapetiks ang Philippine men’s basketball team Gilas Pilipinas kahit na sila ang pinapaborang magwagi sa kanilang paghaharap sa Indonesia sa unang window ng 2021 FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers.
Dikdikan, ayon kay Gilas Pilipinas interim head coach Mark Dickel ang inaasahan nilang paghaharap ng Indonesian squad, na kung saan mentor si dating Gilas coach na si Rajko Toroman. Pagdating sa husay ng larong Pinoy team, iyan ang ipinagmamalaki ni Dickel sa loob ng ilang linggo nilang pagsasanay at malalaman na iyan ngayong araw ng Linggo. “I’m just gonna be really happy if we play a good game. The result should take care of itself,” wika ni Dickel.
Kahit na hindi maglalaro ang dating PBA import na si Lester Prosper, ayaw nilang isipin na madali na ang laban. “Obviously, that changes things for us a little bit as far as how we prepare. But ultimately, they’ve got more than enough to give us trouble out there,” anang coach. “Obviously not having him in there helps us, but we still gotta play the game.”
Sinabi pa ng coach na sisikapin nilang daigin ang kontensiyon sa depensa para hindi magtagumpay ang kabilang team na maka-upset sa kanilang balwarte.
Naobserbahan din niyang disiplinado at magagaling ang shooters ng team ng Indonesia kaya dapat silang mag-ingat sa kanilang paglalaro. “Just the ball movement, they get really good shots. They don’t turn the ball over. They’re disciplined.
These are all things that are difficult to play against, especially if they hit shots. We gotta try and take them out of their patterns and sets a little bit and make it harder for their shooters,” ani Dickel. “And especially playing at home, if they hit a few, we can be in trouble.
So our whole focus is on what we’re gonna do defensively to take their offense away.” Magsisimula sa big game ang Gilas ngayong Peb. 23 ng 7 p.m. sa BritAma Arena, Jakarta.