Gilas eyes good showing in Bologna; 'Final 12' to be named

MANILA, Philippines – The Gilas Pilipinas training pool is now in Bologna, bracing for a pocket tourney versus Italy, China and Canada before coach Tab Baldwin decides on his Final 12 on Sunday.

Team Phl first clashes with Italy then either Canada or China depending on the result of Day One matches. The winners in Day One clash for the crown in Day Two.

The Nationals hope to make good in Bologna to shake off their harrowing performance versus Turkey in Istanbul the other day.

“What’s important is how we’re going to bounce back, how we’re going to pick up from that one and move forward,” said Baldwin.

They got the shock of their lives in their 68-103 blowout by the Turks curiously coming from their nine-day training camp in Greece.

“We came out of that camp feeling really good about ourselves, perhaps too good about ourselves. As coaches, we were ready for a little bit of a setback but I don’t think we were ready for the performance we put out there because it really didn’t represent how we played in the camp,” rued Baldwin.

The Kiwi-American coach said they have to make a turnaround in the Bologna meet.

“It’s not a cause for panic but we need to push the reset button a little bit mentally. We have to test what we’ve become, not allow ourselves to fall back to who we were before the camp because we know that won’t succeed,” he said.

“I think we have to step forward mentally. We’ve done a lot of physical work but mentally we were not up to par,” he added.

At the close of their European jaunt Sunday, Baldwin will be in a teleconference with the SBP officials to name his Final 12 to the FIBA Olympic Qualifier at the MOA Arena on July 5-10.

Two will be cut and serve as reserves from among Andray Blatche, June Mar Fajardo, Japeth Aguilar, Ranidel de Ocampo, Marc Pingris, Troy Rosario, Calvin Abueva, Gabe Norwood, Jeff Chan, Bobby Ray Parks, Jayson Castro, Terrence Romeo, Ryan Reyes and LA Tenorio.