Walang balak na magpakampante ang Philippine men’s basketball team kahit na sila ang pinapaburang magwagi sa nakatakdang pagtutuos nila ng Indonesia sa unang window ng 2021 FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers.
Ayon kay Gilas Pilipinas interim head coach Mark Dickel, inaasahan nilang magiging dikitan ang paghaharap nila ng Indonesian squad na minamando ng dating Gilas coach na si Rajko Toroman.
Ipinagmalaki rin ni Dickel na napakalaki ng improvement ng Pinoy team sa loob ng ilang linggo nilang pagsasanay, at mapapatunayan daw ito sa araw ng Linggo.
“I’m just gonna be really happy if we play a good game. The result should take care of itself,” wika ni Dickel.
Bagama’t mistulang nakahinga nang maluwag ang Pinoy cagers dahil sa hindi maglalaro ang dating PBA import na si Lester Prosper, hindi pa rin daw sila magiging panatag.
“[O]bviously, that changes things for us a little bit as far as how we prepare. But ultimately, they’ve got more than enough to give us trouble out there,” anang coach. “Obviously not having him in there helps us, but we still gotta play the game.”
Paliwanag pa ng coach, target nilang madiktahan ang tempo sa depensa upang masopla ang posibleng pagtatangka ng home team na maka-upset.
Sa kanila rin aniyang obserbasyon, disiplinado at magagaling din ang shooters ng koponan ng Indonesia kaya kailangan daw nilang magdoble-ingat.
“Just the ball movement, they get really good shots. They don’t turn the ball over. They’re disciplined. These are all things that are difficult to play against, especially if they hit shots. We gotta try and take them out of their patterns and sets a little bit and make it harder for their shooters,” ani Dickel.
“And especially playing at home, if they hit a few, we can be in trouble. So our whole focus is on what we’re gonna do defensively to take their offense away.”
Sasalang sa kanilang big game ang Gilas sa Pebrero 23, dakong alas-7:00 ng gabi sa BritAma Arena, Jakarta.
