MANILA, Philippines – Kumbaga sa boxing, maghihintay ng ‘lucky punch’ ang Gilas Pilipinas para talunin ang mga bigating koponan ng France at New Zealand sa darating na 2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
“We have more than any underdog’s chances. We have to go out there ready to take a puncher’s chance against the fighter. That’s what we’ve got to be because we might only get a few swings in the game so we got to swing for the fences,” sabi ni Gilas Pilipinas’ coach Tab Baldwin.
Nakatakda ang Olympic Qualifying Tournament sa Hulyo 5-10 sa Mall of Asia Arena sa Pasay City.
Kaagad makakasagupa ng Nationals ang World No. 5 France, inaasahang magbabandera ng mga NBA players kagaya ni San Antonio Spurs’ star point guard Tony Parker.
Kinabukasan ay tatapatan naman ng Gilas Pilipinas ang 21st-ranked New Zealand.
“We certainly won’t go out there thinking that we don’t have a chance. We won’t go out there bowing to our opponents. I have no doubt the mentality and attitude of the players will be spot-on at game time,” ani Baldwin.
Sinasabing hindi makakapaglaro sina Boris Diaw ng Spurs at Nicholas Batum ng Charlotte Hornets sa OQT dahil sa pag-aasikaso sa kanilang mga bagong kontrata sa NBA.
“If they come with their full contingent, they’ll be very tough. If they come with, say a watered down lineup, there are players playing for France that none of us know their names today that are exceptional players so it won’t be a weak France, no matter what,” sabi ni Baldwin.
Bumuo na si Baldwin ng isang training pool sa pamumuno nina Jayson Castro, Gabe Norwood, Calvin Abueva, Terrence Romeo, June Mar Fajardo at Marc Pingris at nakatakda namang bumalik sa bansa si naturalized player Andray Blatche, habang ipinaramdam ni Fil-Am Jordan Clarkson ng Los Angeles Lakers ang kanyang interes na makapaglaro sa Gilas.
“We have to see first what the eligibility is for Jordan,” ani Baldwin.