Ricci Rivero says Gilas cadets need to boost chemistry

MANILA, Philippines — They may have faltered in their Filoil summer league debut, but the Gilas cadets insist that they’re a work in progress.

Falling to UAAP Champions Ateneo Blue Eagles last weekend, 69-75, the younger edition of the men’s basketball national team took comfort in the fact that all iterations of Gilas started like this: lacking in chemistry and tentative with plays.

“Sabi nga ni coach, lahat ng editions ng Gilas nag-start sa ganito,” Ricci Rivero, the cadets’ top scorer that night, said. “Siyempre learning process ‘to. Kailangan naming mag-earn ng experiences na magkakasama kami.”

Rivero finished with 17 points in 24 minutes of action. He added four caroms, three dimes, along with a block and a steal to his final line.  

.@_ricciiirivero puts the #Gilas cadets’ loss into perspective. #FiloilFlyingVCup pic.twitter.com/GAp8PU3cQ4

— Denison Rey Dalupang (@sonrd) April 21, 2018

“Mahirap siya kasi ‘yung teams, college teams, ‘yung mga players, allowed lang ng (schools) three practices a week. Syempre for us, mahirap na mag-jel drastically na as team agad. Kasi magaadjust pa kami sa isa’t isa,” the young cager offered.

“Best of the bests off college teams ‘to. At iba iba yung roles sa college teams [compared] sa RP (team),” Rivero added. “Kailangan lang malaman kung paano mag-react sa isa’t-isa.”

For the cadets’ part, they began taking steps on improving their chemistry. Rivero noted that team-buildings are now in the pipeline along with get-togethers to boost camaraderie.

“Magkakaroon daw kami ng team-buildings and all. So ‘yung mga gatherings, nag-request kami kung pwede kaming mag dinner out na players muna … And then siguro, from there, mag grow din kami,” Rivero revealed.

“It’s a process, so time talaga ang [pinaka]-kailangan,” he continued.

Gilas takes on De La Salle University next, Rivero’s former team, this Friday at the Flying-V Arena in San Juan.