The recent loss to Montenegro has exposed a stark reality about Gilas Pilipinas' FIBA World Cup campaign, according to insights from Chot Reyes. Despite its hopes and ambitions, the Philippines' ranking remains at 40th in the FIBA men's world ranking, emphasizing its status as underdogs in the midst of basketball powerhouses.
In a tune-up game against Montenegro, who is ranked 18th globally, Gilas Pilipinas faced a 15-point deficit and ultimately lost 102-87. Chot Reyes, the head coach of the national team, doesn't appear to be discouraged by the outcome. He acknowledged that the game served as a valuable experience that highlighted a crucial lesson for his team's journey as underdogs.
The game demonstrated the limited margin of error for the underdog team. Reyes pointed out a pivotal moment in the third quarter when consecutive turnovers allowed Montenegro to score, resulting in an 8-0 run. This shift in momentum proved challenging for Gilas to recover from, underscoring the importance of maintaining focus against formidable opponents.
Despite the loss, there were positive aspects to take away from the game. Gilas kept pace with Montenegro in the first half, with notable performances from players like Jordan Clarkson and Dwight Ramos. However, turnovers remained an area of concern, as highlighted by Clarkson's 8 turnovers. The coaching staff continues to stress the need to minimize errors, particularly turnovers, in their game strategy.
With one more friendly game scheduled against Mexico, the team aims to address and refine the areas that need improvement. Chot Reyes emphasized the value of these preparation matches as learning opportunities, enabling the team to identify and enhance their performance aspects before the FIBA World Cup.
But, should we stop hoping for a miracle now in the upcoming FIBA World Cup?
Of course no. That defeat was really nasty but it can be helpful in our preparation. It opened the eyes of the players about the reality in the World cup.
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