Vincent REYES (Philippines)
31/10/2014
News
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Chot reviews Gilas in 2014, looks ahead

MANILA (FIBA Basketball World Cup/FIBA Asia Championship) - Almost two months have passed since the Philippines played in their final game of the FIBA Basketball World Cup.

Gilas, after nearly springing Group B upsets against Croatia, Argentina and Puerto Rico, and suffering only a 12-point defeat to European heavyweights Greece, got some some reward for all the hard work they put in at the tournament with an 81-79 victory over Senegal on 4 September.

If one win and four defeats in Seville was not an impressive record and not good enough for the FIBA Asia team to progress to the Round of 16, rest assured the overall performance by Chot Reyes' team confirmed they can compete with most teams, especially with the naturalized center from the United States, Andray Blatche, in their squad.

The tournament experience was also a good one because it marked the first time the country had played at a FIBA Basketball World Cup since they hosted the event in 1978.

Now the challenge for the Philippines is to build on the last couple of years and remain a force in Asia.

It remains to be seen if Reyes stays in charge, or if another coach is installed.

There are some certainties, however.

"First, we need to get the best team out there with the best players and give them enough time to train," Reyes said in the Filipino media.

"It can't be one or the other, they go hand in hand.

"Second is the value of international experience.

"There is no substitute for playing against teams of a higher level because that's how you improve.

"Our team was exposed to high standards of the game while training in Lithuania, New Zealand, Miami and Spain.

"That exposure gave us a big lift in Spain where we were one possession and one play away from beating some of the world's best teams.

"And third, expanding our knowledge of the different quirks in playing the game.

"We saw how the game is played differently in Asia, Europe and the rest of the world. There are different team and player tendencies, how the referees interpret calls like the three-second violation and traveling.

"They're little things that can make a difference between winning or losing a game."

The Philippines did not have a good showing at the Asia Games in Korea, which followed the World Cup.

They were not allowed to have Blatche, however, and his absence was a big blow.

Blatche had averaged 21.2 points and 13.8 rebounds in Spain.

"Our plan was we would prepare for the Asian Games at the FIBA World Cup," Reyes said.

"But Dray (Blatche) was ruled ineligible and all of a sudden, we lost 22 points and 13 rebounds a game. We also lost Jayson (Castro).

"Basically, we lost two of our best attack players for Incheon."

Reyes says the country can't revel in its participation at the World Cup but has to begin thinking immediately about next year's FIBA Asia Championship.

Only the side that wins that event will qualify for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

"South Korea went to the World Cup not really thinking of winning any games but just playing to get ready for the Asian Games and beyond," he said.

"China has rebuilt its national team and while they didn't make the Semi-Finals at the Asian Games, they're looking ahead.

"I understand the SBP [national sport association for basketball] and the PBA (Philippines Basketball Association) will sit down soon to take up this issue."

FIBA