MANILA, Philippines -- Veteran PBA coaches Leo Austria of San Miguel Beer and Alaska’s lead assistant Louie Alas believe the upcoming William Jones Cup brings a lot of advantages for a Gilas Pilipinas side that is trying to forge chemistry in just a short period of time together.
Formed just early this month, Gilas faces a backbreaking schedule starting Sunday when the national squad under new coach Tab Baldwin begins tournament hostilities against Chinese Taipei-A.
“Kahit naman ano mangyari, tayo, kailangan nating ma-expose sa international competitions because that’s the only way we can eventually know how to compete against other Asian teams,” Austria told Philstar.com on Friday.
Austria, who guided San Miguel to two PBA championships this past season, explained that Baldwin for sure, won’t flaunt his entire system for the rest of the Asian opponents to see.
“We know the players will give their 100-percent effort in every game, but again, alam din nila (Gilas players and coaching staff) na marami ring mga scouts diyan na pinanonood yung tendencies ng mga players natin,” he said.
“But still, we have to play in a tournament like Jones Cup because that’s the only way for us to get better.”
Alas shared Austria’s sentiments, saying at this point, playing together is crucial since Gilas is just four weeks away from the 2015 Fiba-Asia men’s championships.
“Para sa akin, mas mahalaga yung ma-acclimatize lahat ng players natin sa international competition as a team kasi sa totoo lang, marami namang experienced players tayo sa Gilas, ang problema lang is di pa sila nagka-sabay-sabay maglaro,” Alas said.
Evergreen NLEX big man Asi Taulava, Alaska gunner Dondon Hontiveros, Talk ‘N Text’s Jayson Castro and Ranidel de Ocampo, along with returning Star forward Marc Pingris are all experienced players in the international tournaments.
But for the veterans to work along with the rest of the Gilas players led by naturalized big man Andray Blatche, they have to play as many games as possible, according to Alas.
“Ang importante talaga diyan is makuha nila yung atmosphere ng competition. Mahalaga yung chemistry before sila magpunta sa Fiba-Asia,” stressed the 51-year-old Alas, who previously guided the
Philippine men’s team led by Romel Adducul to the 1999 Southeast Asian Games basketball gold medal.
Alas, a multi-titled NCAA champion coach as well, added that the Jones Cup is an opportunity to familiarize with the system being employed by Baldwin.
The former Mobiline (now Talk ‘N Text) coach said there’s no point of ‘hiding’ the system Baldwin will be employing since what’s primary at this point is for every Gilas player to be able to execute well when
fielded in the game.
“Hindi naman kasi puwedeng iba-iba yung gagawin mo sa system sa Jones Cup, tapos iba uli gagawin mo pagdating sa Fiba-Asia. Siguro, may itatago lang si coach Tab na ibang patterns,” explained Alas.
“Ang mahalaga is mag-execute sila ng mabuti,” he added.
After opening the tournament against Chinese Taipei-A at the New Taipei Hsinchuang Stadium, the Filipinos clash with South Korea on August 31 followed by their match against Russia on Sept. 1.
Gilas then, takes on Japan (Sept. 2), followed by the Hamed Haddadi-led Iran squad on Sept. 3 in a rematch of the final protagonists of the 2013 FIBA-Asia tilt in Manila, and New Zealand on Sept. 4.
Gilas collides with USA on Sept. 5 before capping its stint with its Sept. 6 encounter against Chinese Taipei-B.
The Philippines will be participating in the annual tournament held in memory of the late Fiba secretary general William Jones for the first time since ruling the 2012 edition.