Against the Dominican Republic
Chot Reyes is no longer talking a lot about his patented small-ball rotation as Gilas Pilipinas starts its quest to emerge as the Asian best finisher in the FIBA World Cup 2023, co-hosted by the Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia.
After playing and losing a friendly against a legitimate World Cup qualifier in Team Montenegro, Reyes now expects his big men to play important roles.
“Our bigs really have their work cut out (for them). They must help on penetration, protect the rim and still be able to come out and close out on their men, the ‘bigs’ when they’re shooting on the outside,” said Reyes.
After a short, activities-filled preparation, the Gilas Pilipinas squad, led by Utah Jazz star Jordan Clarkson, kicks off its campaign against the Dominican Republic Friday (Aug. 25) before an expected mammoth crowd at the massive Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.
Their 8 p.m. clash will happen after the 4 p.m. battle between Italy and Angola.
Their tune-up match with Montenegro had served Gilas in good and bad stead.
First, the good side. It has given Gilas a true feeling of what the World Cup is all about.
“This game really makes us feel that we’re really in the World Cup, the kind of team that we’re playing. They have been a team for a long time, great talents and everything else, smooth system, offensively and defensively, I like how we competed,” said Reyes.
But the negatives gave Gilas a little worry. “We competed with them for the entire first half, we just had a letdown defensively in the third quarter. When we give quality teams like Montenegro momentum like that, a lead like that, it would be hard to recover, that was a good example of a brief letdown and you see what happens.”
This is exactly what Reyes expects against the Dominican Republic, which is bannered by Karl Anthony Towns of the Minnesota Timberwolves. Towns is returning to the team for the first time in 10 years.
There are currently 15 players under the Gilas pool and Reyes said he would announce his final 12 on the day of the opening day of the World Cup that will run up to Sept. 10.
He certainly needs the likes of his big men June Mar Fajardo, Kai Sotto, Japeth Aguilar, and AJ Edu to contain Towns and match other Dominican stalwarts, including Victor Liz, Eloy Vargas, and Luis Mendoza — as well as younger stars Jean Montero, Lester Quinones, Justin Minaya and Andres Feliz.
Clarkson has proven himself to be a scoring threat during the Gilas tune-up games. But who will consistently provide him with the necessary support?
It may come from the big men inside the paint or the shooters like Dwight Ramos, Bobby Parks or the Ravena brothers of Kiefer and Thirdy, or Rhenz Aban
do and Jamie Malonzo, depending on who will make the cut in the guard positions.
Reyes has no qualms about his goal of centering the team’s energy on trying to beat the Dominican Republic and Angola and lesser focus on Italy.
“Italy is Italy. We all know the quality of that team. Fortunately, they are our third game. Our focus really is the Dominican Republic and Angola because those are the two games we really have to get,” Reyes said in a previous media interview.
Bracketed in Group A, the Filipinos will next face Angola on Aug. 27 and Italy on Aug. 29, both at the Araneta Coliseum.
“So right now, our concern is the Dominican Republic. A lot of our efforts are really poured into preparing for the Dominican Republic and Angola,” said Reyes.
Gilas is seeking to win at least two of its three preliminary games and make it to the second round, hoping to become the best finisher among Asian countries in order to seal a slot for the 2024 Paris Olympics
The last time the Philippines met Dominican Republic on the court was during the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in July 2021, when the Filipinos suffered a crushing 94-67 defeat.
The Philippine team was represented by an inexperienced squad bannered by Jordan Heading and Ange Kouame and then younger Kai Sotto.