Moving on from China loss, Gilas gears up for Asiad champs Korea

JAKARTA – Forget about that “lost opportunity,” Philippine men’s basketball team head coach Yeng Guiao has turned his focus on a looming make-or-break showdown with South Korea on Monday, August 27. 

Following the country’s heartbreaking 80-82 loss to China on Tuesday, August 21, the Nationals seek to play much wiser – and with more ferocity – in their potential knockout quarterfinals duel with defending Asian Games champs Korea. 

The Philippines, which holds a 1-1 card in Group D, is highly likely to face Korea, which carries a 2-0 card atop Group A, in the Final 8 if China defeats Kazakhstan in last game of Group D. 

The only chance the country will not face Korea in the quarterfinals is if Kazakhstan beats China by at least 1 point, which will set the Philippines to a date with Indonesia. 

“Korea has a different system. Hindi sila nagri-rely sa malalaki nila (They don’t rely on their bigs),” Guiao said. “They rely on ball movement. We have to prepare for their quickness.”

Not only that, the Filipinos must also prepare for former PBA import Ricardo Ratliffe, who serves as Korea’s naturalized player. 

Guiao, though, is unfazed. 

“Our familiarity with Ratliffe will save us some time on the scouting report, but Korea is more than Ratliffe. Korea is more of a team game. They move the ball around,” Guiao said. 

“If you lose your focus, if you lose your patience, that’s the time you break down on defense. I guess those are the things that we have to plan against Korea.”

Guiao believes the team’s gutsy performance against China should be an indication of their chances in the medal round even though the team has had its shares of heartbreaking experiences against the Koreans.

“If we play with the same effort just like what we’ve shown against China, tingin ko kaya natin ang Korea (I think we can beat Korea),” Guiao added.

The Nationals should be reminded that the Koreans had inflicted a long list of heartaches on the country – notably in the Asian Games.

In the 1986 Asian Games in Seoul, the Philippines was deprived of a chance to face China for the gold medal when a controversial charging foul was called against Allan Caidic, which paved the way for Korea to win. 

Fast forward to 2002, Lee Sang Min buried his only 3-point shot in the closing seconds that propelled Korea to an intense semifinals triumph over the Jong Uichico-coached national squad.

If anything, what better way for the Filipinos to bury all those excruciating memories than to eliminate the Koreans early in the tournament. – Rappler.com