Team Gilas to lean on heart, desire

Undermanned nationals in Beirut for Asia Cup

MANILA, Philippines - Gilas Pilipinas buckled down to work upon arrival in Beirut Sunday, holding a brief workout to maintain its competitive form  in the next two days before kicking off its 2017 FIBA Asia Cup campaign against titleholder China at the Nouhad Nawfal Sports Complex tomorrow.

Counting the SEABA Championship back in May as its lone tune-up and now minus their two best big men, the Nationals will have to bank on sheer determination and fighting spirit in going through tough challenges in the Asian meet.

“As the size gets smaller and the number dwindles, the fight grows bigger as the heart expands even more,” said Gilas coach Chot Reyes on his Twitter account shortly before departing Manila.

With a calf injury, JuneMar Fajardo was attended on the sideline by Gilas trainer Dexter Aseron, leaving Reyes with 11 men in the final push in their buildup.

Actually, the Gilas Asia Cup 12  had only one  practice with a complete lineup. Calvin Abueva showed up only on the fifth day of training while the rest had to attend to their duties with their respective PBA mother ball clubs.

With mere 12 days of training and Fajardo a doubtful starter, Reyes hopes to temper expectations on what they can achieve in the Asian joust that has become bigger and tougher with the entry of Oceania heavyweights Australia and New Zealand.

“I like the fact that we are operating under any big expectations. But make no mistake, we will do our best,” he said.

Gilas Pilipinas placed second in the last two editions of this biennial regional meet – in Manila in 2013 and in Changsha in 2015 – primed up with overseas training  and tune-up tourneys.

But it can also be recalled that the Robert Jaworski-coached Team Phl only had a two-week training when it vied in the 1990 Beijing Asiad and finished with a silver-medal feat.

Jayson Castro, Japeth Aguilar, Calvin Abueva, Terrence Romeo and their teammates must place in the Top Three in their grouping with China, Qatar and Iraq to advance to the knockout round.

The top team automatically makes the quarterfinals while the No. 2 and No. 3 earn spots in the qualifying for the quarters.

After their first game against China at 6:30 p.m. tomorrow (Beirut time), the Filipinos tangle with the Iraqis at 9 p.m. on Friday, then the Qataris also at 9 p.m. Sunday.

Qatar is led by its naturalized player and former PBA import Sam Monroe while Iraq is bringing back Kevin Galloway in lieu of their Jones Cup naturalized player Demario Mayfield.

The tourney fires off today with the games in Groups C and D, including Kazakhstan versus New Zealand, Japan opposite Australia, and Chinese Taipei against Hong Kong.