Guiao: I never lost faith in Team Pilipinas

Powerade-Team Pilipinas coach Yeng Guiao believes the Nationals still have a lot to offer when they see action in the 25th Fiba-Asia men’s basketball championship next week in Tianjin, China.

Guiao described the team’s Jones Cup stint in Taipei as a good learning experience, saying not once did he lose faith in his boys, notwithstanding the disappointing showing in the annual meet honoring the founding secretary-general of basketball’s world governing body.

“Basically, the Jones Cup was a feel-out tournament for the whole team. I guess even the rest of the field, baka ganun din ang naging mentality,” Guiao told the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at Shakey’s United Nations Avenue on Tuesday, a day after he and the rest of the team arrived from Chinese Taipei.

“I can see na ’yung sense of urgency ng team, wala pa roon. And knowing these players, you will see a different team kapag nandoon na tayo sa Tianjin,” Guiao added during the session sponsored by Outlast Battery, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., Accel and Shakey’s.

“Tsaka at least, kahit papaano may naitago rin naman tayo kontra sa mga kalaban natin. Ang problema nga lang, baka pagdating ng Tianjin, nakatago pa rin ’yun,” added Guiao with a big smile.

The RP coach added a quarterfinals stint is very possible for the Nationals because of the draw.

But once in the quarters, everything will be up in the air.

“Makapasok tayo ng quarterfinals would already be a big improvement from our ninth-place finish two years ago,” said Guiao. “Ngayon, kung makapasok tayo sa semis, piyesta na sa atin ’yun. Kung maka-tsamba pa, top three tayo and pasok sa World Championship next year.”

Despite losing to both Japan and Korea—teams bracketed with the Nationals in Group A of the Fiba-Asia joust along with Sri Lanka—Guiao still considers the two as beatable.

Even Chinese Taipei, another team which beat the Philippines in the Jones Cup, doesn’t threaten the RP coach.

“Briefly now, we have a good chance of beating teams like Chinese Taipei, Korea and Japan.”

But that won’t be the case when Middle East countries such as Lebanon, Jordan and reigning champion Iran come into the picture.

“Ibang istorya na ’yun,” Guiao said.

“These teams [Middle East] puro kumpleto na. They have the size, speed, shooting touch. They have naturalized players and even players who have NBA [National Basketball Association] experience. I think even China will have a hard time dealing with them.”

He added: “They are really tough to beat. Yes, they can be beaten, but it would take a lot of effort on our part. Maraming dasal at buwenas ang kailangan natin.”

Philippine Basketball Association commissioner Sonny Barrios said the Powerade-Team Pilipinas’ performance in the Jones Cup should not be used as a gauge for its Fiba-Asia campaign.

“First of all, the big picture is alam naman natin that this is the team’s first major international stint against basically the same opponent that they will have in Tianjin. So, along the way we’re able to pick up something which might be of big help to us during the Fiba-Asia,” the commissioner said.

Guiao agreed.

“Actually in those eight games that we had in the Jones Cup, mas marami kaming natutunan than in the last eight months dating back to the time the team was first formed,” he said “Now, we will bring what we learned in the Jones Cup in this last few days of our practices and incorporate it into our games.”

----LINE UP FOR FIBA ASIA----

The team will be composed of Jayjay Helterbrand, Willie Miller, Gabe Norwood, Arwind Santos, Jared Dillinger, Cyrus Baguio, Japeth Aguilar, Kerby Raymundo, Sonny Thoss, James Yap, Asi Taulava, and Mick Pennisi