Naniniwala si Gilas Pilipinas head coach Yeng Guiao na ang kombinasyon ng masamang turnovers at palyadong three-pointers ang dahilan ng masaklap na pagkabigo nila sa Italy sa pagtutuos nila sa pagbubukas ng kanilang kampanya sa 2019 FIBA World Cup.
Bago ito, dinurog ng Italy ang Pilipinas, 108-62, sa pamamagitan ng kanilang pinagsamang magandang execution at nag-iinit na three-point shooting.
“They have the size with their guards that we didn’t have and they had the quickness with their bigs which we didn’t have,” wika ni Guiao.
Bagama’t bigo sa kanilang huling anim na laro sa nilahukan nilang mga tune-up games bago ang torneyo, nagpasiklab agad ang Italy kung saan itinala nila ang tambak na 28-4 abante sa unang quarter.
Habang ang mga Pinoy ay nakagawa na ng walong turnovers sa nasabing yugto, at may apat lamang na pumasok sa 13 tira.
Maliban dito, nagmintis din ang unang 17 pagtatangka ng Gilas mula sa arko bago maipasok ang kauna-unahang tres sa final canto.
“I’m sure they did their homework but we also got into early trouble with our turnovers and we couldn’t hit our three-points. So it’s a combination of all these things,” ani Guiao.
Nahirapan din umano ang Gilas sa pagbantay sa mga Italyano, na nagpamalas ng magandang ball movement.
“They moved the ball really well. Anywhere the ball landed was a threat. So we just had to keep recovering to whoever was gonna catch that ball,” anang coach.
“The problem there was that we didn’t have that kind of speed. So the problem is when you rotate and your bigs can’t cover that quickly. Somebody’s always gonna be open on the third, fourth or maybe fifth pass.
“On the other hand, they just kept switching us. Their guards could guard our bigs and our bigs can guard our guards. So it’s really a dead end for us especially if you’re not making your three-point shots.”
