KUALA LUMPUR – After the grind-out game against Thailand, the Gilas cadet team takes some breather versus Myanmar Tuesday before facing another dangerous rival in the host squad Wednesday.
Whatever it is, the Nationals seek to get going in chase of the SEA Games gold dearest to the nation.
The Nationals try to build momentum for the Malaysia game as they face Myanmar at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the MABA Gymnasium in the heart of the Chinatown district in this Malaysian capital.
One thing they’re keen on working on is how to attack the zone defense.
“We have to find a way to break it,” said Gilas skipper Kiefer Ravena.
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“(Against Thailand) every team in the competition just saw how you could try to beat the Philippines. Just sit on the zone and wait for them to miss,” Ravena pointed out.
“That’s how we’re beat by Korea in the Jones Cup. Good thing, we’re able to make six (triples against Thailand) compared to one that we made against the Koreans,” added Ravena, recalling their hard struggle against the Korean zone in their Jones Cup matchup.
With their good scouting report, the Thais stuck with the zone and nearly pulled an upset against the 11-time defending SEAG champion Team Phl.
The Filipinos made only 6-of-30 three-pointers facing tremendous pressure from the Thais’ swarming defense. Buckets inside the paint at the finish enabled Gilas to grind out an 81-74 triumph.
The addition of another extra shooter in their succeeding games could well help Gilas ease the pressure.
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It’s either Blackwater’s Mac Belo or Alaska Milk’s Carl Bryan Cruz.
Gilas played with a mere 11-man rotation Sunday as the organizers deferred decision on Team Phl’s request for Belo to be allowed to replace Cruz.
SBP deputy executive director Bernie Atienza is hopeful Belo will be allowed to play in their next games. If not, Cruz joins Christian Standhardinger in doing another duty to the Phl team after their FIBA Asia Cup stint in Beirut.
