They say that sending an all-pro Gilas players to the Southeast Asian Basketball Association (SEABA) tournament is an overkill.
But for the Philippine national players, it’s all about chemistry. The team needs to build overwhelming confidence and jell better going to bigger battles ahead.
The team’s co-captain JunMar Fajardo vowed that they are working to build coherence and teamwork and everyone in the team is on exactly the same page.
Asked about his role inside the court, the 27-year-old basketball veteran said, “Maganda naman okay naman. Kung ano lang ‘yung ipapagawa ni coach Chot sa akin ‘yun ang gagawin ko at pagbubutihin ko. Ibibigay ko lahat para makatulong sa game.”
Naturalized player Andray Blatche also has the same thing in mind.
“A lot of new faces but like I said before I’m trying to get to know the guys on and off the court,” Blatche said, mentioning that the national team has to stay focused in order to win. “I know we have the same goal in mind and it makes thing easier.”
It was indeed an easy first day on the job as the Gilas squad pounded Myanmar to pieces for a whopping 147-40 win at the start of the tournament on Friday at the Araneta Coliseum.
It was blowout win like no other for coach Chot Reyes, and something that Gilas rarely enjoys in an international competition.
“I told the players that a lot of times in international competition, tayo ang dehado. It’s very rare that we come into a game na tayo ang liyamado,” said Reyes.
Everyone in the team is taking their roles seriously.
Fajardo, who was hardly needed early in the game, knocked in 14 points while Jio Jalalon and Troy Rosario sank 13 apiece.
Fajardo also gave credit to Blatche. “Malaking bagay ‘yan si Andrey. Pero ‘yun nga, sabi ni coach, hindi tayo pwede maging kampante.”
Japeth Aguilar shared that they still need to play their best even if it is just SEABA.
“We still have to play in the highest level as possible. Nasa individual rin naman na gusto rin namin maglaro at wag mag-let down. Hindi mo rin masasabi eh,” said Aguilar, recalling the team’s strength from the past.
“We were in the same situation as before like nung papunta kami sa FIBA World kahit we were the shortest, we still fought hard and parang ganun rin ‘yung mangyayari ngayon.”
As for the team’s chemistry, Aguilar also guaranteed that they will do their best by showing himself as a good example. “Kami naman, we are all professional in the PBA and feeling ko naman mabilis mag-aadjust ‘yung bawat players,” added Aguilar.
Raymond Almazan has no doubt that they will dominate the SEABA.
“Ang mindset namin lahat eh whatever happens kailangan namin manalo at magchampion tayo dito kasi ‘pag natalo tayo dito lahat ng paghihirap natin mababaliwala. Kailangan talaga diinan natin ngayon,” the 6-foot-9 Almazan said, sharing that he will do his best to make the most out of his Gilas career.
Almazan, like Fajardo, Aguilar and Blatche, hopes that the Filipino crowd will support the team all the way.
“Manood sana kayo para lumakas ‘yung energy namin kasi iba talaga kapag nakikita mo ‘yung crowd na nanonood sa’yo. Suportahan niyo sana kami, suportahan niyo ‘yung Gilas. Laban Pilipinas, Puso!” he ended.
Gilas is taking on Southeast Asian countries including Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam for the title and they are bound to show no mercy. With Peter Atencio