SEA Games: Gilas opens quest vs Singapore

By Waylon Galvez

12:00 noon – Vietnam vs Myanmar (Men’s)

2:15 p.m. – Thailand vs Indonesia (Men’s)

6:00 p.m. – Malaysia vs Thailand (Women’s)

8:15 p.m. – Philippine vs Singapore (Men’s)

Gilas Pilipinas coach Tim Cone believes that even with insufficient preparation, the national team is ready to defend the gold medal as an all-pro team fires off its bid against Singapore in the 30th Southeast Asian Games today at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The Nationals had its final twice-a-day practice yesterday.

“For the time that we have had, we feel we have the guys, not exactly where we want them, but where we need them to be,” said Cone, who began training session in early October.

“They (players) have worked hard and have been serious in their approach. We’re hoping that translates once we hit the floor against Singapore,” added Cone, back on the national team 21 years after leading the Philippines to a bronze medal finish in the 1998 Asian Games.

The preparation was not without glitches, the last of which was the injury to TNT KaTropa players Jayson Castro and RR Pogoy.

Castro’s foot injury forced him to leave the training pool, and the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas added NLEX’s Kiefer Ravena.

Last week, Pogoy – selected to the official lineup – hurt his back during the PBA quarterfinal playoffs, prompting Cone to pick a replacement – his Barangay Ginebra San Miguel center Greg Slaughter.

“Greg would have been part of the original 12 had he been healthy at the deadline a few weeks ago,” revealed Cone.

Also named to the national team are Cone’s Ginebra players LA Tenorio, Stanley Pringle and Japeth Aguilar, San Miguel’s Chris Ross, Marcio Lassiter and June Mar Fajardo, Matthew Wright of Phoenix Fuel, TNT’s Troy Rosario, NorthPort’s Christian Standhardinger and Vic Manuel of Alaska.

For his part, Slaughter said it’s a privilege for him to be chosen again as the final piece of the national team, something he wants to do following his initial stint with the original Smart Gilas Pilipinas from 2009 to 2011.

“I am very happy to be playing on the national team again especially on our home soil,” said Slaughter, who also played one game for Gilas last year during the Asian qualifier to the FIBA World Cup under coach Yeng Guiao.

“There was some doubt if I would be okay in time to play but I really did not want to miss this opportunity and worked very. Everyone on the team has been supportive… and I’m really grateful to coach Tim for including me in the line up.”

The national team has ruled the basketball event for 17 times in 19 SEA Games, including 14 straight that began in 1991 when the event was also held here. The two losses came in 1979 in Jakarta and in 1989 in KL – both against Malaysia.

Aside from Singapore, the national team will also face Vietnam on Friday and Myanmar on Saturday for preliminary Group A action. Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Cambodia are in Group B.

The top two teams from each group will advance in the semifinals on December 9, with the winners moving to the gold medal game on December 10.

Source: Manila Bulletin