Fernandez tiwala sa Gilas

MANILA, Philippines — Inaasahan ni dating PBA great Ramon Fernandez na makokopo ng Gilas Pilipinas ang gintong medalya sa men’s basketball competition ng darating na 30th Southeast Asian Games.

Naniniwala si Fernandez, ang Commissioner ng Philippine Sports Commission na maigigiya ni national coach Tim Cone ng Barangay Ginebra ang national squad sa golden finish.

“He knows what it takes to win in the Southeast Asian Games. It can be done with an all-pro lineup and even with a mix collegiate stars,” wika ni Fernandez, ang four-time PBA Most Valuable Player, sa 61-anyos na si Cone.

Si Fernandez ay mi-yembro ng national team na nag-uwi ng silver medal noong 1990 Asian Games sa Beijing, China.

Target ng Nationals na mapitas ang ika-18 korona sa SEA Games men’s basketball tournament sapul noong 1977.

Ang 15-man Gilas Pilipinas pool ay pinamumunuan nina five-time PBA MVP June Mar Fajardo, Marcio Lassiter, Chris Ross at Christian Standhardinger ng San Miguel, Japeth Aguilar, Greg Slaughter, Scottie Thompson, LA Tenorio, Art Dela Cruz at Stanley Pringle ng Ginebra.

Ang iba pa ay sina Roger Pogoy, Troy Rosario at Jayson Castro ng TNT Katropa, Vic Ma-nuel ng Alaska at Matthew Wright ng Phoenix.

Idaraos ang men’s basketball competition ng 2019 SEA Games sa Dis-yembre 1-10 sa Mall of Asia Arena sa Pasay City.

“We don’t want to lose this one. This is our home court. This is not the best talent, but we are trying to be the best team that we can,” wika ni Cone, ang may pinakamaraming PBA championship sa bilang na 21 na tinampukan ng dalawang Grand Slam crowns noong 1996 at 2013.