Reyes problemado sa depensa at opensa ng Gilas Pilipinas

CEBU, Philippines – Matapos labanan ang tatlong PBA All-Star teams ay hahasain naman ng Gilas Pilipinas ang kanilang depensa at pagtutulungan para sa pinakahuli nilang paghahanda sa darating na 2017 SEABA Championship.

Nakatakda ang naturang torneo sa Mayo 12-18 sa Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Mayroon pang 10 araw si national head coach Chot Reyes at ang Gilas para gawin ito, habang inaasahan namang dumating kagabi si naturalized player Andray Blatche mula sa Atlanta.

“We still have a lot of work to do especially on defense,” wika ni Reyes sa pagtatapos ng 2017 PBA All-Star Week kung saan sumabak ang Gilas sa tatlong tune-up matches laban sa tatlong PBA All-Star selections.

Tumabla ang Gilas sa Mindanao All Stars, 114-114, sa Cagayan de Oro, samantalang nagtala naman ang grupo ng come-from-behind victory kontra sa Luzon squad Lucena at laban sa Visayas team sa Cebu.

Hindi nasiyahan si Reyes sa ipinakitang depen-sa at opensa ng Nationals sa naturang tatlong exhibition games.

“We gave up 60 points in the first half in all those games. That’s a very alarming situation for us although admittedly we played tough opponents,” wika ni Reyes. “They all have great shoo-ters and good point guards who can create. Still, we have to work on our defense.”

Tinukoy din ni Reyes ang opensa ng Gilas, la-lung-lalo na laban sa Luzon team noong Linggo.

“In our game Sunday, we had 12 turnovers in the first half alone. Obviously, they’re still not well familiar with each other,” ani Reyes.

“We have 10 days to understand each other’s tendencies and more importantly the roles they will play,” dagdag pa ng mentor.

 Magdaraos si Reyes ng twice-a-day training sessions bilang preparasyon sa SEABA event na tanging daan para makasama ang Gilas sa FIBA Asia Cup na gagawin sa Beirut sa Agosto.

“Blatche is the only missing piece, but I’ve told the guys we can’t rely on Andray Blatche. We must be ready to do it on our own as we don’t know Blatche’s condition. We’ll he be able to assimilate? So among ourselves, we have to do that,” sabi ni Reyes.

Nagpahinga si Blatche matapos tulungan ang  Xinjiang Tigers na makuha ang korona sa Chinese Basketball League noong Abril 8.

Makakatulong muli ng 6-foot-10 at nine-year NBA veteran sa frontcourt si 6’11 June Mar Fajar-do kagaya ng kanilang ginawa noong 2016 Manila Olympic qualifying tournament.

Ang iba pang nakatuwang ni Blatche ay sina Japeth Aguilar, Calvin Abueva, Troy Rosario, Jayson Castro at Terrence Romeo.

Ayon kay Reyes, hindi pa nakukuha ng mga bagong Gilas players ang kanyang sistema.

“They’re still learning. Raymond Almazan, for one, is groping,” sabi ni Reyes sa 6’7 Rain or Shine slotman.