ASI Taulava is confident Gilas Pilipinas will find its rhythm and master the system in time even as Yeng Guiao runs practices with a limited number of players.
The training camp in Spain will be crucial, says Taulava, although it is also unlikely Gilas will have a full squad for the important tuneup matches with the PBA Commissioner's Cup ongoing.
“The most important thing is the training camp. That's when you see the team start building. You know, the unity they have preparing to go to China,” he said.
Taulava said the players are so good they will be able to learn the whole playbook as soon as practices go full blast just before the 2019 Fiba World Cup in China.
“One thing about Coach Yeng, pressure is not a problem, all the guys just gotta do it come in and learn the plays together,” said Taulava. “He keeps it simple, he doesn't make it complicated. In that way, the guys gonna adjust into the system.”
“No need to panic they got players. They got stars like my roommate Paul, you got the mixture of youth and the vets, then you got Junemar,” said the 46-year-old NLEX Road Warrior.
“I think once they get on the floor, they know how to play. They played in some of the Fiba windows, the preparation has been there.”
Taulava is glad to give a Gilas a hand while other national team members finish their commitment with their clubs.
The 6-foot-9 Taulava joined Andray Blatche and Raymond Almazan on the frontcourt, with other big men June Mar Fajardo and Christian Standhardinger of San Miguel and Rain or Shine’s Beau Belga, also a Gilas practice player, seeing action on Monday night.
“After the relationship we built, you know that group we had in Asian Games, it's just great to get back in here and help coach out in any way,” said Taulava. “He invited a couple of us from NLEX to come in and help so that way we can get up and down the floor for the next five days until they leave Saturday.”
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