IN the words of national coach Chot Reyes, it will be Gilas Pilipinas’ “village” against the Dominican Republic’s Karl-Anthony Towns.
“I do not think it is physically possible for any single person on our team, or perhaps in the entire World Cup, to stop Karl-Anthony Towns one-on-one,” Reyes said of the NBA star also known as KAT yesterday during a press conference at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. “So, it is going to take a village to stop him and the Dominican Republic.
“It is not a one-man team that we are playing tomorrow. But the initial job will be falling to the frontline so that is how important they are,” he added.
The Filipino cagers kick off their bid against the Dominicans in Group A play of the FIBA World Cup at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan at 8 p.m., with President Marcos expected to toss the ceremonial ball.
In front of what is expected to be a sellout crowd, the Philippines tries to impress the world with a bona fide NBA star in Jordan Clarkson suiting up as a naturalized player. But even that may not be enough against a Dominican Republic side bannered by the 7-foot Towns of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Reyes, who steered the team to a 1-4 slate in the 2014 edition of the world cage spectacle in Spain, said the Philippine five’s “puso” mantra lives to this day– nine years after.
“I think ‘puso’ is still very much present. That is the anchor of everything we are doing,” Reyes said. “The values remain the same, but the tactics differ.”
Clarkson, Kai Sotto, reigning PBA MVP Scottie Thompson, Dwight Ramos, June Mar Fajardo, and Japeth Aguilar spearhead a Gilas side raring to pull off some big surprises and qualify for the Olympics next year in Paris.
Completing the squad are Jamie Malonzo, Rhenz Abando, Kiefer Ravena, CJ Perez, Roger Pogoy, and AJ Edu.
Chris Newsome, Thirdy Ravena, Calvin Oftana, and Bobby Ray Parks Jr. were the final cuts in the 16-man pool.
“Very difficult. I like to call it the deepest cut. Really difficult. Some guys we had to cut were there from day one,” Reyes said.
“I was very subdued after practice because I told them the coaching staff is about to make a very tough decision, but it falls on me to deliver the news and the way I like to do it is that I call the players themselves.
“That’s my commitment to the players. They’re not going to find out about it on social media or from any other person but from me,” he said.
“I talked to Thirdy personally, I made a call to Ray, Calvin, and to Chris. I called them all.”
Gilas battles Angola on Sunday, Aug. 27, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum before winding up its group phase campaign against Italy on Aug. 29 also at the Big Dome.
Reyes’ charges ripped Ivory Coast 85-62 in the first of its three-match scrimmage against fellow World Cup squads last week but faded in the last two friendlies, including an 87-102 defeat to a Nikola Vucevic-led Montenegro last Sunday night.
